Port traffic exceeds 90 million tonnes in 2021

Port traffic reached a volume of around 91 million tonnes in 2021, marking a firming of 3.8% compared to the previous year, according to the activity report of the National Ports Agency (ANP).

Container traffic, in particular, registered a record 1.3 million twenty-foot equivalent containers in contrasting variations compared to 2021, indicates the report presented by the agency’s director general, Nadia Laraki, on the occasion. of the board of directors of the ANP, meeting recently at the headquarters of the Ministry of Equipment and Water in Rabat, reports MAP.

The report shows sharp declines of 24.1% and 21.8% respectively in imports of cereals and animal feed due to the achievement of a good agricultural campaign for the 2020-2021 season, a decline of 4.2% in traffic linked to the phosphate activity, as well as an 8.5% recovery in hydrocarbon traffic, indicates a press release from the Ministry of Equipment and Water.

In terms of sectoral regulation, the past year was marked by the introduction of new port operators, particularly in the field of shipyards and in the exercise of related port activities, support for port operators in carrying out their investment projects and the continued animation of the port ecosystem around community issues, it is specified.

With regard to the development and modernization of the port tool, the agency continued during the year 2021 the realization of the various projects undertaken, by putting in place the necessary provisions to catch up with any delays induced by the effects of the health crisis, it is underlined in the press release, adding that the agency has in particular finalized the various projects planned within the framework of the Wessal Casablanca-Port program.

In terms of financial achievements, the agency’s turnover for the past year exceeded for the first time the bar of 2 billion dirhams (MMDH), an increase of 6.5% compared to 2020 and the self-financing capacity stood at 561.6 million dirhams (MDH), notes the same source, reporting a 12.8% increase in added value, standing at 1.3 billion dirhams (MMDH), i.e. +1% compared to 2020, according to Ms. Laraki.

During this meeting devoted to taking stock of the year 2021, the Board took note of the consolidation of the resilience of national port areas in the face of the disruptions in the global logistics chain recorded during the past year, of the continued achievement of various structuring projects in progress, as well as the good performance of the agency’s financial indicators.