By: AGBI

Saudi Arabia and Morocco are reportedly working on a new direct shipping line which they say will reduce transit time for goods from four weeks to four days.

Feasibility studies are expected to be completed by the end of the year followed by the operational phase, Morocco World News reported, quoting Khalid Benjelloun, president of the Moroccan-Saudi Business Council.

The initial findings are likely to point to the shipping line being unprofitable in its first years of operation, he said. However, more than 100 Moroccan companies will benefit, helping grow trade volumes and joint investments.

Businesses from the two countries are planning to set up a joint fund to invest in projects following a meeting in Rabat earlier this month between 30 major Saudi companies and their Moroccan counterparts.

Trade between Saudi Arabia and Morocco was $2.9 billion in 2024. The balance was largely in favour of Riyadh with Saudi exports to Morocco worth $2.7 billion.