The Association of Banks and Financial Institutions (Abef) recently published a note, on Monday, January 29, concerning the importation of products that have been transshipped through Moroccan ports. This directive follows a previous communication of January 10, 2024, prohibiting transshipments of goods through Moroccan ports.
In addition to the note of January 10, Abef received a letter from the Secretary General of the Ministry of Transport, and the latter explicitly asks the banks to instruct their services to domicile all import operations, in particular perishable products. such as meat, the date of boarding which is before January 10, 2024.
Indeed, the previous note, dated January 10, had already issued clear directives to banks and economic operators. It stipulates that no domiciliation operation will be accepted for transport contracts providing for transshipment/transit through Moroccan ports. Before any domiciliation, the services concerned must ensure that transshipment/transit does not take place via Moroccan ports.
Therefore, to comply with the new Algerian instructions aimed at avoiding the transshipment/transit of products intended for the Algerian market through Moroccan ports, the shipowners CMA CGM and Maersk have recently taken measures.
Additionally, on January 19, CMA CGM announced reorganizing its services to Algeria. From now on, all goods destined for Oran, Mostaganem, and Ghazaouet will transit either via Algeciras or Valencia instead of Tangier, Morocco, and on January 24, Maersk decided to redirect the majority of its shipments to the ports of Algiers, Skikda, and Bejaia. These shipments will transit through Barcelona and Algeciras, thus ending transshipment operations at Tanger Med.
Boycott of Moroccan ports by Algeria
In addition, it is important to remember that the boycott of Moroccan ports by Algeria is part of a series of economic measures taken against the Western neighbor, following the severance of diplomatic relations in August 2021. After the rupture, Algeria closed its airspace to Moroccan planes and interrupted the operation of the Maghreb Europe gas pipeline (GME).
This boycott occurs alongside the resumption of trade with Spain on January 14, after more than 18 months of blockage. This situation arises from the decision of the Spanish government, in March 2022, to support the Moroccan plan for Western Sahara.
To conclude, the new Abef directives aim to strengthen control measures on import operations, in particular those involving Moroccan ports. The choice of shipowners to bypass these ports demonstrates the significant economic repercussions of this boycott on regional trade routes. The evolution of the diplomatic situation will continue to influence the strategic decisions of economic actors operating in the region.
