Moroccan exports of fresh foodstuffs to Malaga, Spain increased by 40% just within this past month, following drought that impacted the city and decreased Malaga’s own agricultural production, East Fruit reported on Tuesday, quoting Surinenglish.
To fulfill the requirements of the autumn season, the shipping route connecting the Costa del Sol’s largest city with Tangier-Med is being boosted by the Tom Sawyer cargo vessel, which has replaced the Friedrich Russ.
The vessel has evolved from a pure roll on/roll off freighter with a maximum capacity of 12 drivers to a cargo-and-passenger ship with a capacity of up to 125 persons.
Operator of the Maritima Peregar, Joaquin Pérez-Muoz, stated that the decision to expand the route due to the drought is motivated by the fact that the new fruit and vegetable season needs more capacity for self-propelled vehicles.
Approximately 28 vehicles per day have started operating in each direction in the first phase of the execution plan for the route between Malaga and Tangier-Med.
“We hope to reach at least 80 units in rotation (40 per trip) by October, which will mean an increase of 35 to 40% immediately,” Pérez-Muñoz added.
In addition to increasing food transit, the following items will continue to be exchanged on this route: textiles–with fabric reels to Morocco and finished garments to Malaga–and automobile components bound for Renault’s Moroccan facility.
The surge in traffic, according to Carlos Rubio, president of Malaga’s Port Authority, marks the start of “a very important campaign in Morocco.”
Rubio noted that the Tom Sawyer’s availability opens up the potential for passenger transport between Malaga and Tangier in the near future, and he is certain that this will be achievable before next summer.