Tangier Port Congestion Triggers Weeks Long Delays for Box Ships

The Tangier Med port in Morocco is under heavy strain as surging container volumes are creating severe congestion, leading to weeks long delays for box ships, according to a recent industry report. Forwarders told analysts that many vessels are facing mounting wait times and repeated schedule rollovers. The problem stems from the port operating well beyond capacity, reportedly at around 130%, which has overwhelmed terminal infrastructure and yard space.

The backlog is especially affecting container flows between Asia, Europe, and other regions. Some shipping companies are already considering alternate gateways, such as ports in Casablanca, to bypass Tangier and avoid prolonged dwell times.

The congestion is also drawing concern from exporters, particularly in sectors such as textiles that depend on timely deliveries. Unless port capacity is upgraded or flows diverted, delays are likely to continue impacting supply chain reliability across the Mediterranean region.