South Korea’s HD Hyundai Heavy Industries is making a strategic move into North Africa as it bids to secure a 30-year operating lease for Morocco’s Casablanca shipyard set to become Africa’s largest. The proposed facility, spanning 210,000 square metres, is being offered by Morocco’s National Ports Agency and will feature a crane, wharves, and an onshore dock.
The expansion push comes as HD Hyundai, South Korea’s largest shipbuilder, faces capacity constraints at home due to a record orderbook of 451 vessels, stretching nearly three years. With domestic shipyards at full throttle, the company is turning to Morocco’s Atlantic coastline as a vital offshore production base.
Maritime mission
Morocco’s maritime ambitions further align with Hyundai’s plans. The North African nation, which currently operates only 16 merchant vessels, aims to grow its fleet to 100 ships by 2040 to support expanding trade volumes. Hyundai views the Casablanca site as a strategic hub not only to meet local demand but also to serve European and transatlantic markets, leveraging Morocco’s geographic proximity to major shipping lanes.
The move is part of Hyundai’s broader global strategy to establish footholds in emerging maritime nations, echoing its successful ventures in Vietnam and the Philippines. The company is also strengthening partnerships in India and the United States, recently signing deals with Cochin Shipyard and Edison Chouest Offshore. If successful, the Casablanca shipyard would cement Hyundai’s presence in Africa and support its long-term global diversification efforts in shipbuilding and offshore engineering.