In a significant development for Morocco's transport infrastructure, the national railway operator, ONCF, has officially opened financial bids for a crucial contract aimed at supplying railway tracks for the ambitious Kenitra-Marrakech high-speed rail project. This project also includes upgrades to the conventional railway line connecting key cities such as Kenitra, Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech, as reported by the local Arabic news outlet, Telexpresse.

JSW Steel Italy Piombino has emerged as the frontrunner in this competitive bidding process, submitting the lowest bid of approximately 179.96 million Moroccan dirhams (around $19.3 million). In contrast, Germany's Saarstahl Rails SAS placed the highest bid, which was estimated at about MAD 211.96 million (approximately $22.73 million). Other notable bidders included India's Jindal Steel and China Railway Material Group Hong Kong & Macau Co., although the specific amounts for their bids were not disclosed in the report.

A total of six international companies made it through the prequalification stage to participate in this tender, although two Chinese firms—China Railway Materials Track and China Railway Shanhaiguan Bridge—were eliminated during the technical evaluation phase.

The contract's estimated value was set at over MAD 151 million (around $16.2 million), indicating the scale and importance of this undertaking for improving Morocco's railway capabilities. Notably, JSW Steel Italy Piombino had previously secured a contract worth approximately MAD 653 million in December 2024 to provide railway tracks for the same high-speed project. Likewise, China Railway Material Group Hong Kong & Macau has relevant experience, having won a contract valued at around MAD 489 million in April 2025 to supply rails for the high-speed line in collaboration with Angang Steel Company.

Additionally, Saarstahl Rails SAS has a history of supplying rails for Morocco's conventional railway network under a contract established in 2022. Meanwhile, Jindal Steel is making its debut in the ONCF rail supply tender, marking a new chapter in its involvement in Moroccan infrastructure projects.

It is important to note that all submitted bids are currently under further evaluation, and a final contract award from ONCF is pending.

As reported by tradingview.com.