Tanger Med Worries a Major European Port: Portugal Accuses Carbon Tax of Favoring Morocco

The Portuguese government is pressuring the European Union to obtain a relaxation of the European emissions trading system applied to maritime transport. Lisbon believes that its application is weakening the competitiveness of the port of Sines compared with the rise of Tanger Med.

According to Carbon Pulse, Portugal considers that these rules are already causing maritime traffic to shift from Sines to competing facilities located in Morocco. However, this is the argument put forward by Lisbon, as no precise volume of transferred traffic has been made public.

On Bladi.net : Maersk Shifts US-India Route from Algeciras to Tangier Med Port

The port of Sines occupies a strategic position on Portugal’s Atlantic coast. But shipping companies can compare the cost of different port calls and favor platforms that do not face the same constraints. The shift of Maersk’s activities to Tanger Med had already fueled concerns among several European ports.

Tanger Med Directly Identified

The Moroccan competitor being targeted is clearly identified by Ports Europe. The specialized media outlet reports that the Portuguese government wants to suspend the European mechanism that it accuses of prompting ships to abandon Sines in favor of Tanger Med.

This move comes as Portugal takes stock of the first year of its Portos 5+ port strategy. The carbon issue is thus becoming a matter of direct competitiveness between major European and Moroccan ports, while the effects of this regulation on Moroccan ports have drawn criticism since it came into force.

On Bladi.net : article 122391

The Portuguese request does not mean that Brussels has agreed to amend or suspend its rules. Nevertheless, it shows the growing concern among some European ports that part of their activity could shift to Morocco as a result of the cost of carbon regulation.