The Port Authority of Valencia (PAV) is studying the expansion of its connection routes with northern Morocco.
The port authority recently held meetings with Moroccan shippers and logistics operators on the side lines of the IX Spanish-Moroccan Business Meeting of the Maritime, Transport and Logistics Sector in Tangier.
According to a recent statement, the parties are exploring opportunities to promote maritime traffic between PAV and the African nation – looking in particular at an expansion strategy for Ro-Ro and reefer traffic.
“We are promoting the connection of the Port of Valencia with the whole of northern Morocco and our role as a hub in the Mediterranean with an intense agenda of meetings with exporting and importing companies from Spain and the Moroccan country”, said Cristina Rodríguez, Head of Commercial and Clients of PAV.
Rodríguez stressed that they “want to promote short sea shipping lines, especially ro-ro traffic between the two areas, as well as the movement of reefer goods, a very dynamic sector in recent years that Valenciaport and its port community have strengthened through investment in infrastructure and new services”.
READ: PTI Insight: Morocco’s maritime master plan
Valenciaport already boasts strategic connections with Morocco, as nearly 100,000 containers were moved between the two in the first 10 months of this year.
The total traffic of goods totalled 1,746,246 tonnes according to data from the Statistical Bulletin of PAV.
During the same period, however, the Port of Valencia registered a 7.7 per cent drop in container traffic in the first 10 months of this year, as Spain’s logistics infrastructure has been impacted by the global geopolitical and economic crisis.
Valenciaport moved 4.33 million TEU so far this year.
