Tanger Med’s rise is forcing the Canary Islands to rethink their port strategy
The Canary Islands have long benefited from their position between Europe, Africa and the Americas. The growth of Moroccan infrastructure is challenging that advantage, according to a Spanish opinion piece. To retain ship calls, the archipelago’s ports must also win over shipping companies with their facilities and services.
Being on ships’ routes is not enough to make them call at a port. That is the warning Miguel Espinoso issued to the Canary Islands in an opinion piece published on October 7 by Agencia6. In the face of Morocco’s port development, the archipelago’s location alone may no longer guarantee its role as a stopover between three continents.
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The competition from Tanger Med is built on a range of infrastructure: terminals, connections to international shipping lines and industrial zones linked to the port. This model combines cargo handling with production and logistics activities based nearby.
Its weight grew further in 2025. The terminals handled 11.1 million twenty-foot equivalent units, the standard measure of container traffic, an increase of 8.4%. Total tonnage reached 161 million tonnes, according to Tanger Med Port Authority.
In Las Palmas and Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the author criticizes administrative delays, a lack of coordination and insufficiently decisive investment choices. He says these obstacles limit the ports’ ability to make the most of their facilities and geographical location.
The case for specialization
The debate is about which services can keep shipping companies coming back. The opinion piece proposes focusing the Canary Islands’ efforts on cold-chain logistics, cruises, ship repair and certain routes to Africa. The archipelago could thus develop activities that complement those of Moroccan ports.
Time matters in this competition. Shipping companies plan their networks and investments over long periods. Once they have established regular calls at certain ports, shifting them becomes costly. Espinoso therefore calls on regional and port authorities to coordinate their decisions.
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This competitive pressure comes alongside growing activity in the Canary Islands. The five ports managed by the Las Palmas Port Authority handled 36.5 million tonnes in 2025, nearly 15% more than in 2024, reports RTVC.
Their container traffic rose by 16.28%, to 1.55 million twenty-foot equivalent units. This was the highest level in the statistical series dating back to 2011.
