Morocco Freight and Logistics Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

Morocco Freight and Logistics Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2022 - 2027)

Road transport sector played a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic in moving goods, supporting the operation of supply chains, repatriating citizens, and transporting people to their workplaces. Meanwhile, freight transport companies were affected to a lesser extent due to the collective efforts of the authorities and professionals in the sector to ensure the continuity of freight operations.

The political stability and the geostrategic location are offering a competitive advantage compared to other countries in northern Africa. The country receives the highest foreign direct (FDI) investments in the African region with focused investments in the manufacturing industry, real estate, and tourism sectors yet FDIs in the transport and logistics sector are relatively limited in the country and account for less than 3% in total FDIs. The geostrategic location of Morocco within Africa and the Mediterranean, the signing of free trade arrangements with the EU, USA, Turkey, together with a rise in income per capita, has resulted in increased volumes of international trade during the past fifteen years. The vast majority of Morocco’s foreign trade comes by sea making it crucial for further economic growth to invest in the country’s commercial ports.

Along with successful Maritime, Morocco’s air, rail, and road freight transport and the logistics sector has shown strong growth rates as well. National Logistics Strategy 2030 an initiative that was introduced by the government of Morocco is focusing on decreasing logistics costs to contribute to higher GDP growth rates, reduction of Carbon dioxide emissions and the creation of 36,000 jobs is anticipated to strengthen the logistics sector in the country.

Increasing public investments in the country's physical infrastructure during the study period has contributed to the expansion of the domestic transport and logistics sector. The construction of 1,800 km of new expressways, expansion of the rail network, and the development of logistic and industrial zones led to a sharp rise in the number of companies active in the transport and logistics business. Upgrades in transport and logistics infrastructure have been vital in driving economic growth in Morocco in recent years.

As the country develops and urban areas expand, the interconnectivity of economic centers and efficient connections to the rest of the world will be paramount to supporting the growth of other sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing, and tourism. Over the last two decades, the kingdom has spent an average of about MAD 40 billion (USD 4.2 billion) on transport and logistics, representing 10% of total investment in the country and 20-25% of the state’s investment budget. In 2020, the sector accounted for around 6% of GDP.

Morocco is planning to link two cities on its Western flank overlooking the Atlantic in a rail project that will cost an estimated 75 billion MAD (USD 7.58 billion). The ‘Express Train’ will connect Morocco’s largest city, Casablanca, with Agadir, located in the South.

According to industry estimates, e-commerce in Morocco employs nearly 2 million people, which is about 14% of the active population and contributes 8% to the national GDP. (2020). COVID-19 led to an e-commerce boom in many African countries, but its growth in Morocco has been particularly impressive.

With a four-month lockdown in 2020, one of the strictest and longest on the continent, Moroccans had to rely on the internet to purchase almost everything from food and clothing to electronics. By the end of 2020, more than 1,000 e-commerce websites were operating in the country, with 300 of those having started business in the same year.

In 2020, e-commerce sites in Morocco witnessed a 46% increase in transaction volume and a 25% increase in the amount of money spent compared to the same period in 2019, according to figures from the Interbank electronic banking center (CMI), which monitors online transactions in the country. Spurred on by the pandemic, Morocco’s e-commerce growth is not slowing down soon. The figures in 2021 show an increase of 48% in the number of transactions and 30% in the amount from 2020. Online businesses in Morocco are not limited to e-commerce giants like Jumia, Shein.com, or Electroplanet. ma, which operates virtual marketplaces.

The freight and logistics market in Morocco is dominated by the majority of international key players and European companies. The majority of the logistics companies are active both in various freight transports and warehousing services as well. The market is anticipated to grow during the forecast period with the growing e-commerce, and increasing investments into the infrastructure sector of the market.

Major regional players have been observed to venture into new regions, allowing the companies to improve their geographic reach. New competitors are entering the freight and logistics market with customized and industry-specific services. Some major players include Bollore Africa Logistics, SMTR Carre, DB Schenker, Kuehne & Nagel, and LOGICOLD. The construction of 1,800 km of new expressways, expansion of the rail network, and the development of logistics and industrial zones led to a sharp rise in the number of companies active in the transport and logistics business.

• The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format
• 3 months of analyst support