Management functions of the Freeport of Monrovia have been ceded to a Moroccan company, completing the capture of the country’s main seaport by foreign merchants.
APM Terminals, a subsidiary of the Danish shipping conglomerate A.P. Moller – Maersk, currently controls key aspect of the port under a long-term concession.
GTMS (Global Tracking and Maritime Solutions) is another company that Provides cargo tracking and security verification for imports and exports according to information on the National Port Authority website.
Lawmakers are pushing Liberia Sea and Inland Ports Decentralization and Modernization Act of 2024/2025 to make the four main seaports (Monrovia, Buchanan, Greenville, and Harper) autonomous and end the National Port Authority centralized control. NPA management that has surrendered its duties to the Moroccans is opposing the proposed legislation.
Tuesday Marsa Maroc, Morocco’s leading port operator said it has signed an agreement with the National Port Authority of Liberia to manage the Port of Monrovia beginning in the first half of 2026.
The deal forms part of Marsa Maroc’s broader African expansion strategy, as the Casablanca-listed company strengthens its footprint across West and East Africa.
Under the agreement, Marsa Maroc International Logistics (MMIL) will oversee the rehabilitation of port infrastructure, deploy modern port equipment, and provide bulk cargo handling expertise to operate two key jetties at the Port of Monrovia, according to Reuters.
In the second phase of the Liberia project, Marsa Maroc announced that it is targeting a concession agreement to develop and operate a new multipurpose terminal at the Port of Monrovia.
The terminal is expected to handle the majority of Liberia’s trade flows, significantly boosting cargo capacity and operational efficiency at the country’s main maritime gateway.
The expansion will strengthen Liberia’s logistics infrastructure and Marsa Maroc’s role in regional maritime trade.
Liberia would become the third African country outside Morocco where Marsa Maroc operates, reinforcing its growing presence on the continent. The company currently manages 34 terminals across 20 ports, handling more than 60 million metric tons of cargo annually.
Marsa Maroc joins a wave of Moroccan companies expanding across Africa, following major investments by Moroccan banks, fertiliser giant OCP, and mining firm Managem.
In 2024, Marsa Maroc announced plans to expand into both West and East Africa. The strategy includes managing two terminals at the Port of Cotonou in Benin and developing an oil and gas terminal in Djibouti.
In December, Marsa Maroc further strengthened its international profile by acquiring a 45% stake in Spain’s Boluda Maritime Terminals (BMT), a subsidiary of Boluda Corporación Marítima, for €80 million ($94 million). The move signals the company’s ambition to become a key player in global port operations and maritime logistics.
