Tanger Med is a success story at the southern tip of Europe and MedHub is a big part part of the story. Paul Hamblin spoke to senior executives there to learn why.
Q: Tanger Med has become one of the world’s leading maritime hubs. What are the key factors behind its success?
A: Location has been fundamental. Tanger Med sits on the Strait of Gibraltar, one of the world’s most strategic maritime corridors, connecting shipping routes between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. This unique position allows the hub to serve as a gateway linking Europe, Africa and Asia. The Americas can be reached within around 10 days, Rotterdam is just three days away, and major Chinese ports are approximately 20 days distant. These advantages make Tanger Med an ideal transshipment and distribution platform for global trade.
Q: Beyond its geographical advantages, what distinguishes Tanger Med from other ports?
A: Tanger Med is much more than a port. It has developed into a fully integrated industrial and economic ecosystem that combines world-class port infrastructure with extensive free trade and industrial zones. Today, more than 1,400 multinational companies operate within the wider complex. This integrated model has played a significant role in transforming northern Morocco into one of the country’s most important economic engines, attracting investment, creating jobs and supporting international trade.
Q: What role does Medhub play within the Tanger Med ecosystem?
A: Medhub is the logistics free zone at the heart of the Tanger Med port complex and has become a major contributor to the hub’s success. It provides companies with access to more than 100 countries through the port’s extensive maritime connections. In addition, businesses operating from Medhub can reach a market of around one billion consumers across Europe and Africa.
The zone is designed to simplify operations for investors and logistics providers. It offers a single business stop, a unified customs area and currently spans 200 hectares, with a further 50 hectares planned to support future expansion and growing demand.
Q: What kind of activity is taking place within Medhub today?
A: The scale of activity is substantial. In 2024 alone, more than 62,000 logistics flows passed through the site’s 20 warehouses, representing approximately $4.55 billion in goods. More than 100 logistics companies and distributors have established operations within the zone. Medhub has attracted a wide range of international brands and logistics specialists. Global companies such as Adidas, Decathlon, Renault and 3M operate from the site, while major logistics providers including Dachser, DHL, CEVA Logistics and DB Schenker have also established a presence there.
Q: What warehousing facilities are available for companies looking to establish operations?
A: Medhub offers high-quality Class A warehousing specifically designed to meet the needs of international businesses. The warehouses range in size from 4,000 to 10,000 square metres and have been purpose-built to meet stringent regulatory and safety requirements. Facilities include advanced fire protection systems, smoke ventilation, dust-proofing measures, high floor-bearing capacities and generous storage heights. Warehouses provide 12-metre clearance and floor support of up to five tonnes per square metre. In addition, companies can benefit from a range of value-added logistics services, including picking, packing, storage, co-packaging, labelling, assembly and quality-control operations.
Q: What additional infrastructure supports business operations at Medhub?
A: Alongside the warehousing facilities, Medhub provides modern office space ranging from 50 to 280 square metres. These offices are air-conditioned and designed to meet international security standards, allowing companies to establish both their operational and administrative functions within the same location.
Q: What incentives are available to businesses that choose Medhub?
A: Medhub offers a highly attractive fiscal framework. Businesses benefit from exemptions on customs duties and VAT, as well as exemptions on registration and stamp duties relating to capital. There are also significant tax incentives, including exemptions on business taxes for up to 15 years and income tax exemptions for five years.
Q: How does Medhub help simplify international trade and logistics?
A: One of Medhub’s core objectives is to reduce bureaucracy and make international trade as efficient as possible. Customs procedures have been streamlined to facilitate movement of goods through the zone. Companies can benefit from split certificates of origin for goods transiting through the port, while no customs declarations are required between the port and the logistics zone. The platform supports both world-to-world and world-to-Morocco operations, offering businesses exceptional flexibility in managing supply chains and regional distribution.
Q: What message would you give to companies considering expansion into Africa?
A: The message to global players is simple: Morocco is the gateway to Africa and Medhub is the starting point.
