China has officially launched its first rail-sea logistics corridor to Morocco, marking a significant advancement in Sino-African trade connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The new multimodal route starts in Chengdu, the capital of Sichuan province, and travels by rail through Poland, Germany, and Spain.
From the port of Barcelona, containers are then shipped across the Mediterranean to Tanger Med, Morocco’s largest port. This marks the first time a China-Europe Railway Express line has been extended to an African Mediterranean port and is expected to cut delivery times from over 35 days to just 20 days.
Trade efficiency
Spearheaded by Sichuan Silk Road Supply Chain Management in partnership with DPD, a subsidiary of France’s La Poste, the corridor aims to enhance trade efficiency and bolster supply chain resilience by offering an alternative to traditional sea routes via the Suez Canal or the Cape of Good Hope. Although it may not yet rival sea freight in cost, the route is expected to become increasingly attractive as more operators join and as China eases tariffs on African goods, facilitating Moroccan exports to China.
Morocco has positioned itself as a strategic partner in the BRI, becoming the first North African country to sign a formal implementation plan with China in January 2022. This agreement paved the way for deepened cooperation in logistics, infrastructure, energy, and digital connectivity. Thanks to its unique geographic position bridging Africa, Europe, and the Atlantic, Morocco is becoming a crucial hub for Chinese trade expansion.
Chinese investment in Morocco has been steadily rising, particularly in the automotive, renewable energy, and infrastructure sectors. Chinese firms are active in projects such as Tangier Tech City and are investing heavily in solar and wind energy initiatives. Notably, Gotion High-tech is building Africa’s first gigafactory in Morocco to support the continent’s electric vehicle battery production.
The launch of this logistics corridor is expected to further strengthen economic ties, encouraging Chinese companies to use Morocco as a strategic base for penetrating both African and European markets.