Cádiz Port Association in Talks for New Maritime Route
The Cádiz Port Promotion Association, an organization that unites economic and logistical stakeholders in the Andalusian port, announced on Saturday, August 29, that it is currently in discussions with two shipping companies to establish a freight line connecting southern Spain with the Moroccan ports of Agadir and Dakhla, with a scheduled stop in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria. These developments were revealed through statements made by the association's president, Daniel Macpherson, reported by the Spanish island press.
Macpherson characterized the negotiations as "fairly advanced" and noted that the initiative has garnered support from the Port Authority of the Bay of Cádiz along with cooperation from Moroccan authorities, with whom bilateral trade missions have already been conducted. He believes that the Andalusian port possesses all the necessary conditions to emerge alongside the Port of Las Palmas as a "strategic commercial hub with southern Morocco." The operation will utilize feeder-type container ships and roll-on/roll-off vessels, with Cádiz Bay serving as the peninsular terminus and Las Palmas as the primary island stopover. The timeline for the project's launch hinges on the availability of vessels; a deal with the shipping companies currently under discussion could lead to a short-term opening, while a new ship order might delay the launch by up to four years, according to Macpherson.
Addressing Congestion and Future Prospects
This maritime corridor aims to alleviate the congestion in the Strait of Gibraltar, which becomes particularly acute during the summer months. The Strait Passage operation recorded 2.16 million passengers in its first two months of 2026, a volume that, when combined with heavy transport, periodically blocks the main maritime route between Europe and Africa, as per Spanish press reports. The project proponents are looking to extend trade beyond seasonal agricultural products—such as fruits, vegetables, and octopus—towards more consistent traffic, starting with components intended for the automotive industry.
However, the project unfolds amid a tense political landscape. Antonio Morales, the president of the Gran Canaria Cabildo, raised alarms in August regarding Morocco's assertiveness and its direct implications for the Canary Islands, with the Port of Dakhla being a primary concern. Additionally, the Spanish government has suspended the acquisition of 45% of Boluda Maritime Terminals by the semi-public Moroccan port operator Marsa Maroc for €80 million, following a complaint lodged by the Cabildo in January 2026. This operation, currently under review by the Junta of Foreign Investments and pending advice from the Council of Ministers, involves nine Spanish terminals, including those in Cádiz, Las Palmas, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Fuerteventura, and Lanzarote. Morales described this transaction as a "Trojan horse" that could jeopardize the sovereignty of the archipelago over critical infrastructures.
Major players in the sector have already established a foothold in the Moroccan market. The Spanish group Boluda and the Italian-Swiss shipping company Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) have reached agreements with Rabat to operate terminals in both countries, recognizing the potential of Nador, Dakhla, and Tanger Med. The latter has emerged as a benchmark for the new Atlantic port landscape, and its growth serves as a point of contention for Cádiz-Port and the Gran Canaria Cabildo, each interpreting it differently: the Cádiz stakeholders see it as a model to emulate, while the Canarians perceive it as a looming threat to the Port of Las Palmas.
As reported by barlamane.com.
