Professional resources
Useful Links — Customs, Ports and Official Bodies
Official links to the main organisations, portals and references used in foreign trade, customs clearance and transport in Morocco.
Customs and Foreign Trade
Official customs portal: tariff schedules, import/export procedures, Badr e-services and online customs clearance.
douane.gov.ma ↗Single electronic window: cargo manifests, import licences, domiciliation visa and real-time shipment tracking.
portnet.ma ↗Foreign exchange regulations, repatriation of funds and bank domiciliation requirements for import contracts.
oc.gov.ma ↗Ports and Infrastructure
Port tariffs, vessel call schedules, traffic statistics and regulatory framework for all Moroccan ports.
anp.org.ma ↗Container terminal operator at Casablanca, Agadir, Nador and Dakhla. Vessel tracking and port services tariffs.
marsamaroc.co.ma ↗Africa’s largest container port. Europe-Africa transshipment hub with direct access to major global shipping lines.
tangermed.ma ↗Handling of dry and liquid bulk, general cargo and vehicles at Casablanca port.
somaport.ma ↗Health Control and Compliance
Sanitary control for food imports and exports, phytosanitary and veterinary certificates, and operator approval.
onssa.gov.ma ↗Moroccan standards (NM), conformity marking and product certification for import and export operations.
imanor.gov.ma ↗Professional Associations
Professional body for customs brokers and FIATA-accredited freight forwarders operating in Morocco.
affm.ma ↗World federation of freight forwarders. Issuer of official FIATA transport documents: FBL, FCR, FWR, SDT.
fiata.org ↗International References
Official rules for allocating costs and risks in international sales contracts (EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP and more).
iccwbo.org ↗Air cargo regulations, air waybill (AWB) standards, IATA tariffs and cargo handling procedures.
iata.org ↗Need help with your customs or logistics procedures?
ADII, PORTNET, ONSSA, Office des Changes — our teams handle these procedures every day. Contact us for personalised assistance with your file.
Resources
Useful guides for your shipments
A few concepts that come up regularly in our conversations with Moroccan importers and exporters — explained simply.
Choosing the right mode of transport
The usual reflex is to compare rates per kilogram. That is rarely the right angle. A more expensive mode that saves you ten days can prevent a stock-out, a contractual penalty or a missed selling season — three items that weigh far more heavily than the freight differential.
Three questions to ask before deciding: from what date does the absence of the goods cost me money? What is the value per kilogram of what I am shipping? And can this cargo withstand the handlings involved in groupage?
Glossary
Terms you will come across
FCL and LCL
FCL stands for Full Container Load — a maritime container reserved for your cargo alone. LCL stands for Less than Container Load: your cargo shares the container with other shippers’ goods, and you pay only for the space you use. See our sea freight FCL and LCL service.
FTL and LTL
The road equivalents. FTL is a dedicated full truck load; LTL is a partial load shared with other shippers. See our road freight FTL and LTL service.
Chargeable weight
In air freight and groupage, carriers charge the higher of actual weight and volumetric weight, calculated from the shipment’s dimensions. Light but bulky cargo is therefore charged on volume. We detail this on our air freight page.
Incoterms 2020
International rules that define, between seller and buyer, who organises and pays for each segment of the transport, and at which precise point risk is transferred. The choice of Incoterm directly determines who bears which cost — worth discussing before signing the commercial contract.
Bill of Lading
Document issued by the shipping line. It acts as a receipt for the goods, proof of the transport contract and, in its negotiable form, a title of ownership.
Airway Bill
The air freight equivalent, identified by an eleven-digit number that enables tracking with the airline.
Ad valorem insurance
Insurance covering the declared real value of the goods. International conventions cap carriers’ liability at amounts often well below the actual value — hence the value of additional coverage for high-value cargo.
Demurrage and detention
Charges invoiced when a container remains idle beyond the free time granted. They accumulate daily and can become very significant — which is why planning the timely release of cargo is essential.
Preparing your packaging properly
A significant proportion of the damage we encounter does not come from the transport itself, but from packaging unsuited to the journey. A loosely wrapped pallet does not hold up well through four transhipments and three weeks at sea.
- Palletise as soon as the number of packages exceeds a few units
- Stretch-wrap and strap to consolidate the load
- Avoid any overhang beyond the edges of the pallet
- Label each package clearly and durably
- Use heat-treated timber for destinations that require it
- Mark fragile items and those with a required orientation
A question about your shipment?
We are happy to answer technical questions, even before any order is placed.