A restriction on trade between the European Union and Morocco would not affect Moroccan exporters alone. The port of Algeciras and the entire logistics economy developed around trade with Tanger Med could also suffer the direct consequences.
Nearly 100,000 ships cross the Strait of Gibraltar each year. Given the strategic importance of this passage between Morocco and Spain, Rabat is proposing an international code of conduct for states bordering major straits.
The Tarifa–Tangier Ville route is rapidly gaining ground. In the first eight months of 2026, it carried 18.8% more vehicles and 8.8% more passengers, while traffic declined on the other routes operated by Algeciras and Tarifa.
Gone from Spain, the Andalusian buttonquail could soon return to its former range. Eighteen birds bred from eggs collected in Morocco have arrived in Jerez, where their reproduction is intended to pave the way for a future reintroduction along the Andalusian coast.
Even before its opening, Nador West Med is prompting new investments on the Spanish shore. The port of Motril has just authorized the construction of a customs warehouse intended in particular for Moroccan perishable products shipped to Europe.
Tanger Med has moved up one place in Lloyd’s List’s 2026 global ranking. With more than 11.1 million containers handled in 2025, the Moroccan port has risen to 16th place and now surpasses Los Angeles.
More than 1,200 trucks travel between Tanger Med and Algeciras every day. Faced with growing trade with Morocco, the Spanish port is preparing to handle 800,000 trailers a year before 2030.
All maritime crossings between Tangier and Tarifa were cancelled on Saturday due to strong winds in the Strait of Gibraltar. The disruption occurred during the final weekend of Operation Marhaba.
The Spanish port of Algeciras will invest €20 million to strengthen and deepen one of its main berths. The aim is to be able to accommodate three mega-container ships simultaneously, as Nador West Med prepares to gradually enter service.
Two women died overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday after their car fell into the Port of Algeciras. The four occupants had just passed through the police checkpoint and were preparing to board a ferry bound for Tangier.
La Méridionale will suspend its regular crossings between Marseille and Tangier Med from September 15, 2026, to June 15, 2027. The company cites the route’s strong seasonality and assures that it is not leaving Morocco.
Entering Ceuta is not enough to reach mainland Spain. Migrants who remained in the enclave after the mass arrivals in July are now paying smugglers up to 9000 euros to cross the Strait of Gibraltar clandestinely.