Morocco launches Pan-African coffee hub at Tanger Med 

MOROCCO – Morocco has inaugurated the first pan-African coffee centre, the African Coffee Hub, located within the Tanger Med port complex, a move that could transform the continent’s role in global coffee trade by enabling direct exports from Africa to Europe, the United States, and Asia.  

The facility represents a strategic shift away from traditional trade models that relied heavily on European intermediaries and lengthy, multi-stage supply chains. 

Under the new system, buying, consolidation, quality control, and export preparation will take place in Morocco. Coffee will be sourced directly from African producers, processed at the Hub, and dispatched swiftly through Tanger Med to global markets.  

According to Hub CEO Sanaa Ben Abdelkhaleq, the initiative is designed to “allow African coffee to reach the world without intermediaries, while guaranteeing quality, traceability, and fair returns for producers.” 

The establishment of the Hub comes at a time when Africa’s significance in global coffee supply is notable: Ethiopia, the continent’s largest producer, yields approximately 470,000 to 500,000 tonnes annually, sustaining over 15 million farmers. 

Other major producers include Uganda (around 400,000 tonnes), Côte d’Ivoire, Tanzania, and Kenya. Yet despite producing more than 10% of global coffee volume, African origins have historically captured only a small portion of global value, largely because processing, export preparation, and branding have been handled outside the continent. 

By consolidating production under one roof and combining origin traceability with streamlined logistics, the African Coffee Hub aims to capture more value for producers and supply higher-quality beans to international roasters. 

The facility plans to implement rigorous quality standards, transparent sourcing protocols, and sustainability practices across the coffee value chain. 

The move aligns with rising global demand for specialty coffees — including Ethiopian arabica, Tanzanian peaberry, and Kenyan AA — and growing interest in traceable, ethically sourced beans.  

The hub’s launch also resonates with broader continental ambitions under trade initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which seeks to boost intra-African trade in agricultural commodities, value-added products, and exportable goods. 

Operating from the strategically situated Tanger Med port, the Hub is well positioned to offer fast, competitive export services.  

Over the coming weeks, the African Coffee Hub is expected to announce its first procurement agreements with African coffee-producing countries, and to reveal its operational calendar, key logistics and industrial partnerships, and official export schedules.  

Sign up HERE to receive our email newsletters with the latest news and insights from Africa and around the world, and follow us on our WhatsApp channel for updates.