(3 Minutes Read)
A surge in watermelon shipments from Mauritania is clogging Morocco’s Tanger Med Port, sparking growing concern among international freight operators over mounting delays and logistical bottlenecks.
Industry sources cited that dozens of trucks loaded with Mauritanian watermelons are arriving daily at the northern Moroccan port, bound for European markets. This influx is straining an already burdened system, further exacerbated by recent maritime disruptions caused by adverse weather between Morocco and Spain.
Freight companies have voiced frustration over the worsening backlog, which they say is hampering the timely export of a wide range of goods to Europe.
A Tanger Med port official confirmed that between 40 and 60 watermelon-laden trucks enter the port each day. “This volume inevitably puts pressure on port operations,” the official said, adding that efforts are underway to clear the congestion caused by the recent weather-related traffic suspension.
Compounding the problem are lengthy inspection procedures. A single truck carrying watermelons from Mauritania can take up to three hours to clear inspection, significantly longer than average for other goods, further slowing throughput and straining port resources.
To alleviate the bottleneck, port officials are advocating for the redirection of watermelon exports to other Moroccan ports such as Casablanca and Nador. This redistribution strategy is seen as key to easing congestion during peak export periods.
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The spike in Mauritanian watermelon exports stems in part from Moroccan agribusiness investments in the neighbouring country. Facing strict water restrictions at home due to prolonged drought, several major Moroccan producers have relocated operations to Mauritania, where water use policies are less restrictive.
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