Tanger Med increases vehicle exports from Morocco in 2024 with majority heading to Europe

Europe is now receiving more vehicle imports from Morocco on an annual basis and is second only to China in terms of the volumes sent. In CY2024, the port exported almost 540,000 finished vehicles to Europe, the vast majority of the nearly 601,000 new finished vehicles processed at the port for the year (+4% on CY2023). 

With total automotive parts exports factored in, the North African country officially became the largest automotive exporter to the EU by value (€15.1 billion) ahead of China and Japan in 2023, a year in which Tanger Med port in Morocco increased vehicle processing by 21%.

Exports in 2024 were led by vehicles from Renault Group’s factories in Mellousa, near Tangiers and Somaca in Casablanca. Stellantis also exported a smaller percentage of the whole from its Kenitra plant, which is also in Morocco (see table). However, Stellantis has plans to double production at its plant in the coming years, which could further boost volumes to Europe from Morocco.

Renault exports on the rise 
Renault says its exports grew 8%, with 76% of the total volume leaving Tanger Med bound for Europe last year. After Europe, principal export markets are Turkey and Saudi Arabia. 

Renault has its own dedicated terminal at Tanger Med on a 13 hectare-plot with storage capacity for 6,000 vehicles. It has two quays capable of berthing 240-metre vessels, with a 12 metres of depth.

There is also a common user vehicle terminal covering 5.5 hectares, with storage for 3,000 vehicles and also with two quays. The vehicle terminals are both managed by STVA subsidiary Groupe CAT and provide capacity for annual handling of 1m, thanks in part to the addition of a multi-story vehicle storage facility.

Almost 100% of the vehicles produced in Tangiers are transported by rail to the port for export and Renault Group’s Moroccan plants have been using a vehicle control tower since the end of 2024 to monitor all the transport flows of finished vehicles being delivered. Renault says this digital application allows all stakeholders to visualise in real time vehicles position during transport phase.

Tanger Med port complex is directly connected by rail to the Renault plant at Mellousa, which is the largest vehicle assembly plant in Africa. Rail also links the Stellantis plant in Kenitra to the port. The rail terminal at the port has four lanes and each train moving between the Renault Mellousa and Stellantis Kenitra plants can carry up to 280 vehicles.