Morocco Earmarks 6 Billion Dirhams to Ports Development up to 2022

Morocco’s ports agency (ANP) announced that it has earmarked 6 billion dirhams (about $650 million) over the 2018-2022 period, including 2.7 billion dirhams to be invested in 2018 in projects covering ports development and extension.

The agency’s board of directors said that the investments will focus on the extension of the ports of Casablanca and Agadir.

These development projects will go hand in hand with the already launched upgrading of Casablanca’s fishing port and the extension of the ports of Essaouira as well as the works to achieve a multi-purpose port in Agadir.

The ANP expects a 6.7% improvement in the volume of ports crossing with a capacity to handle 87.7 million tons.

The ANP ascribes the increase to a rise in phosphates derivatives along with the surge of coal and the prospects of a meager crop year and the ensuing rise of wheat imports.

The agency also expects the turnover for 2018 to reach around 1.8 billion dirhams, that is an increase of 6.7% compared to 2017.