The logistics sector currently represents an essential part of the economic fabric of Morocco, contributing up to 6% of its total GDP. Currently the main complexity in the logistics sector in Morocco are customs formalities, and therefore the choice of logistics partner is a key to the proper accomplishment of operations with Morocco in order to avoid delays or blockings of import procedures, leading to unexpected additional costs such as port fees or paralyzation of the detained transport mean.
According to the program doing business developed by the World Bank, on the average it takes 14 days to perform an import in Morocco. It is still need to be improved when it is compared with the countries of OECD in which the average is 9 days, though it is much better than in the rest of the countries of North Africa and the Middle East, where the average is 24 days.
The table below reflects the nature of the import procedures in Morocco and their deadlines.
| The nature of the import procedures |
Duratión (days) |
US$ Cost |
| Preparation of the documents | 9 | 300 |
| Customs clearance and technic controls | 2 | 150 |
| Ports and terminal handling | 2 | 350 |
| Domestic transport and handling | 1 | 170 |
| Totals | 14 | 970 |
Source: Doing Business Program (World Bank Group)
The documents required for an import in Moroco are the following:
- Bill of lading
- Commercial invoice
- Customs Import Declaration
- Gate Pass (Bon de Sortie)
- Import registration form (engagement d’importation)
- Packing list
In order to avoid penalties and additional costs in customs of destination, in advance to the shipment of goods it is necessary to learn the regulations of both customs and of the different bodies involved into the clearance of the goods.
On the economic, financial and commercial levels the engine is Casablanca, as it is where the largest population and
industries are concentrated. Following Casablanca the great logistics center is Tangier due to the importance of the port of Tanger Med and its key role in traffic in the Strait and transshipment.
A few days before the end of 2014 tThe port of Tangier Med exceeded 3 million of TEUs with a 20% increase over the previous year, when it achieved the number of 2.55 million of TEUs.
This exceptional performance and continued growth are reinforcing the forecasts with the development of the future port Tanger Med 2 that is expected to be completed in late June being able to start the activity of container traffic in 2015.
Once the second phase of expansion of Tanger Med, with two other terminals and up to 35 usable acres, is completed, the total carrying capacity of the port will amount to eight million containers per year, competing with the port of Algeciras, which closed 2014 with 4.6 million of TEUS and its hegemony in the Mediterranean.
