Morocco is a steady market for used American machinery and a straightforward lane to ship, which makes it a pleasant change from some of its neighbours. We move used equipment there regularly. The one thing worth getting right before you book is the port, because the biggest and most famous port in the country is usually not the one your machine should be going to, and picking it can leave your cargo in the wrong place.
Casablanca, not Tanger Med
Tanger Med is the largest container port in Africa and one of the largest in the Mediterranean, and because of that it is the name people reach for when they think about shipping to Morocco. For most import cargo that is the wrong instinct.
Tanger Med is overwhelmingly a transshipment hub. Its business is moving containers between ocean services rather than feeding the Moroccan domestic market, and it sits at the far northern tip of the country, a long way from where most Moroccan construction and industry actually is.
- Casablanca is the main gateway for cargo entering the Moroccan market, and it is where machinery normally lands.
- Agadir serves the south and the agricultural regions.
- Nador serves the north east.
- Jorf Lasfar is largely an industrial and bulk port.
- Tanger Med is the transshipment giant, and only occasionally the right answer for an import.
Pick the port by where the machine is going, not by how big the port is. A machine discharged at Tanger Med when the buyer is in Casablanca has several hundred kilometres of unnecessary inland transport ahead of it, and on an oversized machine that is not a small bill. We route to the port that suits the destination.
Used machinery into Morocco
Used construction and industrial machinery moves into Morocco routinely, and it is a normal part of what we ship. Moroccan contractors, quarry operators and agricultural businesses buy used American plant, and the lane works.
The import formalities at the Moroccan end, including any import title or authorization that applies to the goods, are handled by your importer with their own customs agent. That is where those obligations sit, and a Moroccan agent will know the current position far better than any shipping website. Our side of the transaction is getting the machine from wherever it is in the United States onto a vessel and into the right Moroccan port, properly prepared and properly documented.
As with everywhere, the rules belong to the destination government and can change without notice, so confirm anything material with your agent before you commit money to a purchase rather than after the machine is bought.
How we get the machine there
Most machines on this lane travel in containers, and that includes plenty that other companies would quote on a flat rack. The difference is that we dismantle machines ourselves, principally at our Baltimore facility, rather than only booking space on a vessel.
- Backhoe loaders go into a container with the cab off, the bucket off and the arm off where length requires it.
- Wheel loaders in the Caterpillar 950 class dismantle into a 40ft high cube.
- Large excavators can be split across containers. We have shipped a Hitachi EX300, around the 30 tonne class, as one 40ft high cube plus one 20ft with the track side frames removed.
- Mini excavators and skid steers go in as they stand, often two to a box.
A container moves cheaper than a flat rack, so the dismantling usually pays for itself comfortably, and it frequently removes the need for oversize permits on the American road leg as well, which saves a second time. On a lane where sailings often route through a Mediterranean hub, a sealed container has the additional merit of keeping the machine and all its removed parts together through the transfer.
Been quoted a flat rack for Morocco?
Send us the model and we will price the container option alongside it so you can see both numbers.
Get a QuoteWhere a machine genuinely cannot be containerized, we ship it flat rack, breakbulk or roll-on roll-off and tell you so plainly. The full method comparison is in our guide to what it costs to ship heavy equipment.
Preparation and the US side
- Collection nationwide, including from Ritchie Bros., IronPlanet and Purple Wave. Most yards will not load a machine that can reasonably be driven, and they require a bill of lading for anything going to a foreign country, which we issue as the ocean carrier.
- The export filing, submitted by us through the Automated Export System. You supply the bill of sale or auction invoice, proof of ownership and the exact serial number.
- Cleaning, where required, which matters for anything that has worked on soil, since soil and plant residue cause problems at a great many destinations.
- Fluids and batteries, prepared to the requirements of the booked route, which differ between container, breakbulk and roll-on roll-off and are further shaped by the carrier's own booking conditions.
Serial numbers need to be exact, because they appear on the export filing and on the bill of lading, and a mismatch between the documents and the machine creates delay at clearance. Send us the number from the machine plate rather than from the auction listing where you can.
Duty, clearance and inland delivery in Morocco are handled by your own licensed customs agent there, and we supply the documents they need. We do not quote Moroccan duty, because it is set by the Moroccan government rather than by us.
Morocco equipment questions
Should my machine go to Casablanca or Tanger Med?
Casablanca, in almost every case. Tanger Med is the largest container port in Africa but it is overwhelmingly a transshipment hub, moving boxes between ocean services rather than feeding the Moroccan market, and it sits at the far northern tip of the country. Casablanca is the main gateway for cargo actually entering Morocco.
What is wrong with landing at Tanger Med?
Nothing in itself, but if your buyer is in Casablanca or further south you have just added several hundred kilometres of inland transport, and on an oversized machine that is not a small bill. Pick the port by where the machine is going rather than by how big the port is.
Which other Moroccan ports do you use?
Agadir for the south and the agricultural regions, Nador for the north east, and Jorf Lasfar where industrial or bulk cargo suits it. Casablanca takes the bulk of machinery. We route to whichever suits the final destination.
Can the port handle a large machine?
For a large out of gauge or breakbulk piece the discharge capability is worth settling before booking rather than discovering on arrival, since it is not identical across terminals. We confirm it as part of routing the shipment.
Can I import used construction machinery into Morocco?
Yes. Used construction and industrial machinery moves into Morocco routinely and it is a normal part of what we ship. Moroccan contractors, quarry operators and agricultural businesses are steady buyers of used American plant.
Who handles the Moroccan import formalities?
Your importer, with their own licensed customs agent in Morocco. Any import title or authorization that applies to the goods sits with them, and a Moroccan agent will know the current position better than any shipping website can. Our side is getting the machine prepared, documented and into the right port.
Is there an age limit on used machinery into Morocco?
This is a question for your licensed customs agent in Morocco against your specific machine class and HS code, because the rule belongs to the Moroccan government and can change. We would rather point you at the right person than give you a number we cannot stand behind.
Do rules change often?
Import rules anywhere are set by the destination government and can change without notice. Confirm anything material with your agent before you commit money to a purchase rather than after the machine is bought and sitting in a yard.
Will my excavator fit in a container for Morocco?
More often than you have probably been told. Mini excavators go in as they stand, mid-sized machines go in dismantled, and we have shipped a Hitachi EX300 at around 30 tonnes as one 40ft high cube plus one 20ft with the track side frames off. Send us the model and we will check it properly rather than estimate.
Why do you recommend a container over a flat rack?
A container moves cheaper than a flat rack, so the dismantling usually pays for itself, and it often removes the need for oversize permits on the American road leg as well. On a lane where sailings frequently route through a Mediterranean hub, a sealed container also keeps the machine and its removed parts together through the transfer.
What if my machine cannot be containerized?
Then we ship it flat rack, breakbulk or roll-on roll-off and tell you so plainly. There are machines where the arithmetic does not favour dismantling and we will say when yours is one of them rather than pushing you into work that does not pay.
Can you ship a machine that does not run?
Yes, though it costs more to handle at both ends because it has to be winched or lifted rather than driven, and it rules out roll-on roll-off. Tell us at quoting stage, because it genuinely changes the number.
Can I ship several machines together?
Often yes, particularly smaller machines and attachments, which share a container readily. If you are bidding on several lots at the same auction, tell us before you bid and we will look at how they consolidate.
Does my machine need cleaning before shipping?
Where the destination calls for it, yes, and it matters for anything that has worked on soil. Soil and plant residue cause problems at a great many destinations and steam cleaning before loading is inexpensive insurance. We arrange it where it applies.
What about fuel, hydraulics and the battery?
They follow different rules depending on whether the machine travels in a container, as breakbulk or by roll-on roll-off, with the carrier adding its own booking conditions on top. We prepare the machine to whatever the booked route requires, so it is not something you need to research.
Why do serial numbers matter so much?
Because they appear on the US export filing and on the bill of lading, and a mismatch between the documents and the machine creates delay at clearance. Send us the number from the machine plate rather than from the auction listing wherever you can.
What paperwork do you handle?
We submit the US export filing through the Automated Export System and issue the bill of lading. You supply the bill of sale or auction invoice, proof of ownership and the exact serial number. Duty, clearance and delivery in Morocco are handled by your own agent and we supply the documents they need.
Can you collect from a US machinery auction?
Yes, anywhere in the USA, including Ritchie Bros., IronPlanet and Purple Wave. Most yards will not load a machine that can reasonably be driven, and equipment going to a foreign country needs a bill of lading at the gate, which we issue as the ocean carrier.
How long does the ocean leg take?
It depends on the service and the load port, and sailings from the US East Coast and Gulf are frequently routed through a Mediterranean hub rather than running direct. We give you a concrete timeline with the quote rather than a generic range.
Do you quote Moroccan duty?
No. Duty is set by the Moroccan government and handled by your licensed customs agent there. We carry the machine to the port of discharge and supply the documents your agent needs.
Are you a broker or the carrier?
We are the carrier. Cassandra Logistics is a federally licensed Ocean Transportation Intermediary under FMC license OTI No. 025125NF, legally Royal Port Container Lines, Inc. DBA Cassandra Logistics. The license is public and verifiable with the Federal Maritime Commission.
Import rules change. The customs information on this page comes from official government sources and was accurate when published, but duties, age limits, inspection regimes and eligibility requirements are set by the destination country and can change without notice. Cassandra Logistics is a licensed ocean carrier, not a customs authority or a legal adviser. We are not responsible for changes to foreign import law, or for decisions made by customs at destination. Always confirm current requirements with a licensed customs agent in the destination country before you buy a machine.