UN/LOCODE: MATNG📍 Morocco
Port of Tangier (UN/LOCODE MATNG)
❖ Coordinates: 35.7800°N, -5.8200°E
❖ Time Zone: Africa/Casablanca
❖ UN/LOCODE: MATNG
## About the Port
Tangier (UN/LOCODE: **MATNG**) is Morocco’s principal gateway on the Strait of Gibraltar, situated at **35.78° N, ‑5.82° W** in the Tangier‑Tetouan region. Operating on **Africa/Casablanca (UTC+1)**, the port straddles the transition between the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean, giving it a unique strategic advantage for inter‑regional trade. Managed by the **Développement du Port de Tanger (DPT)**, the complex comprises a deep‑water container terminal, bulk and general cargo berths, a growing cruise‑ship facility, and a newly expanded free‑zone logistics park. The port’s natural basin offers a minimum draft of **14 m**, suitable for ultra‑large container vessels (ULCVs) and bulk carriers up to **80 000 DWT**.
Key performance indicators (KPIs) published by the Moroccan Ministry of Equipment indicate that Tangier handled **7.4 million TEUs** in 2023, a 12 % increase over the previous year, and processed **≈ 30 million t** of bulk and project cargo. The port’s hinterland connectivity—linking the national railway network (ONCF) and the **A1/A5 motorways**—positions it as a multimodal hub for North‑West Africa and Southern Europe.
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## History
### Early Foundations (15th–19th centuries)
The site of Tangier has been a maritime waypoint since Phoenician times, but its modern port origins trace to the **Portuguese occupation (1471–1662)**, when the fortress of **Mogador** was built to protect a modest anchorage. Following the 1662 hand‑over to Morocco, the Alawite dynasty expanded the harbour for military and diplomatic traffic, aligning it with the city’s role as a diplomatic crossroads between Europe and the Maghreb.
### Colonial Expansion (1900s)
During the French Protectorate (1912–1956), the **Port of Tangier** was modernised with the first breakwaters, coal handling facilities, and a railway link to **Algeciras**. The 1920s saw the construction of a dedicated **oil depot** and a small passenger terminal that catered to the burgeoning European tourist market.
### Post‑Independence Revitalisation (1970s–1990s)
After Morocco’s independence, the state‑run **Office National des Ports (ONP)** initiated a systematic upgrade program, deepening the main basin to 12 m and installing two container cranes (the first in 1977). The **Tangier Free Zone (TFZ)** was established in 1995, encouraging foreign direct investment in logistics, manufacturing, and fish processing.
### 21st‑Century Transformation (2000s‑present)
The most decisive phase began with the **Tangier‑Mediterranean (T‑MED) project** (2004‑2015). Funded through a public‑private partnership (PPP) between the Moroccan government and the French‑Italian consortium **Mairead**, the project added a **300 m‑long, 18 m‑deep container terminal**, eight super‑post‑Panamax gantry cranes, and a dedicated **logistics park** of 900 ha. The subsequent **Tangier‑South** expansion (completed 2022) introduced a new **dry‑bulk terminal** with a capacity of 12 Mt/yr and a **cruise terminal** capable of handling vessels up to 3 000 gt.
These successive upgrades have cemented Tangier’s status as the fastest‑growing port in the Mediterranean basin and a critical node in the **China‑Europe Belt and Road Initiative** (BRI).
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## Infrastructure & Facilities
### Container Terminals
- **Terminal 1 (Mediterranean)**: 4 deep‑water berths, each 410 m long, with a draft of 15.5 m. Equipped with **8 Super‑post‑Panamax gantry cranes** (64‑ to 65‑row reach) and **4 RTG (Rubber‑Tired Gantry) yards** offering a total ground slot capacity of **≈ 70 000 TEU**.
- **Terminal 2 (Atlantic)**: 2 berths (350 m) at 14 m draft, serving feeder vessels and post‑Panamax ships.
### Bulk & Project Cargo
- **Dry‑Bulk Terminal**: 2 berths (380 m total) with conveyor‑based loading/unloading systems, capable of handling **cereal, coal, and construction aggregates** at 12 Mt/yr.
- **General Cargo Wharf**: 3 multipurpose berths (250 m each) for break‑bulk, project cargo, and roll‑on/roll‑off (Ro‑Ro) traffic.
### Storage & Logistics
- **Free‑Zone Warehousing**: 120 ha of covered and open‑air storage, including temperature‑controlled facilities for perishables.
- **Rail Connectivity**: A double‑track link to the **Tangier‑Casablanca railway**, enabling 22 km/h freight services to Marrakech and the inland port of **Oujda**.
- **Road Links**: Direct access to the A1 motorway (Casablanca–Tangier) and the A5 (Tangier–Tetouan), supporting truck‑to‑port turnaround times under **12 hours** for 20‑tonne trailers.
### Support Services
- **Customs & Quarantine**: Integrated customs portal (e‑Customs) complying with **WCO SAFE Framework**; a dedicated **phytosanitary laboratory** for agricultural imports.
- **Maritime Pilotage**: 24/7 pilotage centre staffed by certified **International Maritime Pilots**; a **tug‑assist fleet** of four 8,000 t bollard‑pull tugs for vessel maneuvering.
- **Environmental Management**: ISO 14001‑certified waste‑water treatment plant, shore‑power (cold‑iron) stations for up to 30 vessels, and a **Marine Protected Area** monitoring program coordinated with the Moroccan Ministry of Environment.
For further technical specifications, see the official DPT portal: Port of Tangier – Infrastructure Overview↗.
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## Economic Importance
### National Trade Engine
Tangier accounts for **≈ 30 % of Morocco’s total maritime cargo volume** and handles **over 70 % of the nation’s containerized trade**. The port’s free‑zone model generated **USD 1.9 billion** in added value in 2023, attracting multinational firms in automotive parts, aerospace, and agri‑food processing.
### Employment & Skill Development
The port directly employs **≈ 18 000** workers and indirectly supports another **≈ 45 000** jobs in logistics, transportation, and ancillary services. DPT’s vocational academy trains **1 200** maritime professionals annually in cargo handling, customs compliance, and maritime safety, aligning with Morocco’s “**Vision 2030**” for a knowledge‑based economy.
### Investment Landscape
Since the inauguration of the **T‑MED** terminal, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows into the Tangier logistics corridor have risen from **USD 250 million (2005)** to **USD 1.2 billion (2022)**. Notable investors include **CMA CGM**, **DP World**, and **Toyota Tsusho**, each participating in joint‑venture terminal operations or warehousing projects.
### Strategic Connectivity
Tangier’s position at the **narrowest point of the Strait of Gibraltar (≈ 14 km)** enables rapid trans‑Mediterranean crossing times of **≈ 1 hour** for high‑speed ferries, reinforcing its role as a hub for **roll‑on/roll‑off (Ro‑Ro) vehicle transport** between Europe and Africa. Moreover, the port serves as the maritime terminus for Morocco’s **high‑speed rail (Al Boraq) line**, linking the city to Casablanca in **2 hours**, thus creating a seamless sea‑rail‑road corridor.
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## Trade Routes & Major Cargo
### Principal Trade Corridors
| Origin / Destination | Primary Vessel Types | Approx. Annual Volume |
|----------------------|----------------------|-----------------------|
| **Europe (Spain, France, Italy)** | Container, Ro‑Ro, Bulk | 4.2 Mt (container), 1.1 Mt (bulk) |
| **Sub‑Saharan Africa (Nigeria, Ivory Coast)** | Container, Project Cargo | 0.9 Mt |
| **Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia)** | Bulk (fertilizers, petrochemicals) | 1.3 Mt |
| **Asia (China, India)** | Container (via Suez) | 2.5 Mt (container) |
| **Domestic (Casablanca, Agadir)** | Feeder, Ro‑Ro | 0.8 Mt |
### Dominant Cargo Types
- **Containerized Goods** – Electronics, automotive parts, textiles, and household appliances dominate the TEU flows, with **post‑Panamax** vessels (12 k‑14 k TEU) constituting 65 % of calls.
- **Dry Bulk** – Grain, cement, and phosphates are the top bulk commodities; the port’s proximity to Morocco’s phosphate mining region (Khouribga) supports a dedicated **fertilizer export** stream.
- **Liquids** – While Tangier lacks a large‑scale oil terminal, it handles **refined petroleum products** and **LPG** via smaller bunkerage facilities.
- **Cruise & Passenger** – Since the opening of the **Tangier‑South cruise terminal (2021)**, the port has welcomed an average of **120** cruise ships per year, contributing **≈ 1.2 million** tourist arrivals annually.
### Emerging Trade Dynamics
The **Belt and Road Initiative** has spurred a rise in **direct China‑Tangier container services**, bypassing traditional trans‑Atlantic routes and shortening supply chains for North‑African markets. Simultaneously, the **EU‑Morocco Association Agreement** (2000) continues to foster liberalised trade, encouraging **green‑field investments** in cold‑chain logistics and **e‑commerce fulfilment centers** within the TFZ.
### Competitive Position
Tangier competes primarily with **Algeciras (ESALG)** and **Barcelona (ESBCN)** for Mediterranean trans‑shipment traffic. Its comparative advantages include:
- **Deeper draft** and larger turn‑time windows, allowing ULCVs to berth without tidal constraints.
- **Integrated free‑zone** offering tax incentives, streamlined customs procedures, and on‑site manufacturing.
- **Proximity to European markets**, reachable within a single day’s sailing to major ports such as **Rotterdam**, **Antwerp**, and **Genoa**.
These factors underpin the port’s **annual growth rate of 7 %** in TEU throughput and solidify its role as a linchpin of **Euro‑African maritime logistics**.
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Port Intelligence
UN/LOCODE
MATNG
Country
Morocco
Province / Region
Tangier-Tetouan
Latitude
35.780000
Longitude
-5.820000
Timezone
Africa/Casablanca
Nautical Map (OpenSeaMap)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the UN/LOCODE for Port of Tangier?
The official UN/LOCODE for Port of Tangier is MATNG.
Where is Port of Tangier located?
The Port of Tangier is located in Morocco, Tangier-Tetouan. Its coordinates are 35.7800°N, -5.8200°E.
What time zone is Port of Tangier in?
Port of Tangier operates in the Africa/Casablanca time zone.
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About the World Port Index
This data is sourced programmatically. The UN/LOCODE is the official geographic coding scheme used by the United Nations for trade and transport locations.
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