South Korea’s HD Hyundai is close to finalizing a strategic deal to operate the new shipyard at Casablanca Port, which is set to become the largest facility of its kind in Africa. The move is expected to strengthen the Asian company’s presence in emerging markets and give Morocco a significant boost in developing its maritime industry.
According to Korean media reports, attention is now focused on the outcome of the international operator selection process, with HD Hyundai Heavy Industries emerging as the leading candidate. The group reportedly holds a clear advantage in both technical and financial aspects of the bid.
Sources indicate that Morocco’s National Ports Agency is conducting the final technical evaluations for selecting the shipyard operator, with an official announcement expected soon. The country aims to attract an experienced international operator capable of managing a large-scale maritime industrial complex.
HD Hyundai is participating in the project through a consortium with the Moroccan engineering company Somajec, combining Korean industrial expertise with local knowledge of infrastructure and regulatory environments.
The project involves creating a massive industrial maritime complex covering nearly 210,000 square meters at Casablanca Port. Once operational, it will be the largest shipbuilding and maintenance facility in Africa, capable of servicing both commercial and military vessels.
If HD Hyundai secures the contract, the operator would have rights to use the shipyard for up to 30 years, providing comprehensive shipbuilding, repair, and maintenance services, including modernization and overhaul (MRO) operations.
For HD Hyundai, the project represents an opportunity to expand its production footprint beyond Asia, where it currently operates facilities or partnerships in the Philippines, Vietnam, and India. Adding Africa would diversify its production bases and reduce operational costs, while establishing an early presence in a growing regional market.
The strategic significance of the Moroccan shipyard has drawn European economic media attention. Spain’s El Economista reported in April 2025 that the Casablanca project could “redraw the map of the maritime industry in the region” and poses a direct challenge to southern European shipyards, particularly the Spanish state-owned company Navantia. The report highlighted Morocco’s $300 million investment in the 210,000-square-meter facility, designed not only for repair and maintenance but also to compete in the European shipbuilding market.
The international tender for a 30-year management contract reflects Morocco’s ambition to replicate its automotive sector success in the maritime industry, leveraging competitive labor costs, political stability, modern infrastructure, and favorable taxation compared to European counterparts.
El Economista also emphasized the project’s strategic relevance in light of shifts in the global ship maintenance market, including the recent relocation of some foreign fleet maintenance to Moroccan ports, and noted Morocco’s particular interest in Korean maritime technology as a key factor in partnering with HD Hyundai.
