Morocco expands airport cold storage for fresh produce exports, adds five cooling chambers

MOROCCO – Royal Air Maroc Cargo has expanded its cold storage at Casablanca Airport, adding five cooling chambers across 590 square metres for perishable exports.

For logistics operators and fresh-produce supply chains, this expansion strengthens Morocco’s position as a strategic hub for temperature-sensitive agricultural exports moving between Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

The facility is intended to support temperature-controlled handling and air cargo shipments. To address growing demand, the Head of Cargo Operations at Royal Air Maroc stated that “Royal Air Maroc Cargo needs more and larger cold storage chambers to continue providing top-quality service,” highlighting the role of energy efficiency in the company’s cold chain strategy.

Firstly, agricultural products are a key export segment for Royal Air Maroc Cargo. Its Fresh Cargo service is designed for temperature-sensitive shipments, such as perishables, which receive priority handling in controlled environments and in cool containers supplied by specialized providers.

Therefore, Fresh Cargo service is structured to meet delivery timelines for perishable shipments, ensuring that fruits, vegetables, and flowers reach international markets with minimal quality degradation.

Demand for temperature-sensitive goods continues to rise, with perishable products requiring controlled handling and rapid transport to preserve quality. Royal Air Maroc Cargo operates cold storage facilities across Moroccan airports, but the Casablanca expansion represents a significant increase in capacity at the country’s primary air freight gateway.

For food-industry investors, the five new cooling chambers, three for imports, two for exports, signal Morocco’s ambition to capture a larger share of perishable air freight between West Africa and European markets.

In addition, energy-efficient design reduces operating costs while maintaining precise temperature control for high-value produce such as berries, tomatoes, and cut flowers.

As global demand for fresh Moroccan produce grows, particularly in European and Gulf markets, expanded cold storage at Casablanca airport reduces bottlenecks and ensures consistent product quality on arrival.

As a result, Royal Air Maroc Cargo is expanding its cold chain logistics to support international trade flows and strengthen its position in temperature-controlled air cargo, positioning Casablanca as a competitive alternative to European hubs for perishable transhipment.

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