The Atlas service will connect Agadir and Casablanca with London Gateway and Antwerp Gateway ports, moving 150,000 tonnes of fresh produce annually while reducing emissions by 70 per cent compared to traditional road transport.
DP World is launching a Morocco to UK and North Europe service that it said will cut export times for fruit and vegetable shipments in the UK by up to two days.
This will in turn, it noted, offer retailers and consumers better quality produce at lower cost and with a significantly reduced carbon footprint.
The new Atlas service connects key hubs at Agadir and Casablanca in Morocco, with DP World owned ports and terminals, London Gateway and Antwerp Gateway, using two dedicated vessels starting in November 2025.
The service will also take improved quality produce into Antwerp for distribution in Europe.
”By moving up to 150,000 tonnes of fresh produce from road to sea each year, the route delivers a scale, sustainable logistics solution that reduces emissions by up to 250kg CO2/tonne-km,” DP World outlined. ”This is a 70 per cent reduction compared to traditional trucking.
”Unlike road transport on the 3,000-plus km journey, the new shipping service avoids congestion, bouts of serious vandalism and delays at border crossings while offering a smoother passage for delicate produce such as tomatoes and blueberries, which are prone to damage on bumpy roads.”
The sea route, which will leverage DP World-owned Unifeeder’s vessels and refrigerated containers, also offers a sustainable alternative to the congestion experienced on the water crossings between Tangier and Algeciras and Calais and Dover for UK- bound cargo.
“We are launching a bespoke solution from Morocco to the UK and the continent,” said Rashid Abdulla, managing director and CEO at DP World Europe.
”The key elements of this service – reliability, fast transit times and modern IT platform – will provide exporters and retailers with a viable alternative to the current transportation by truck and ensure improved quality produce at lower cost with a significantly reduced carbon emissions.”
DP World has invested in a fleet of 1,250 brand new, modern reefers as it looks to guarantee condition and freshness of produce.
Morocco exports over 6.5mn tonnes of fruit and vegetables annually to Western Europe, with volumes growing at over 20 per cent year-on-year.
Trade agreements and supportive policies are accelerating this momentum, making seafreight a timely and viable alternative to road, the company explained.
“We are committed to building smarter, more sustainable and more resilient supply chains,” said Markus Rodatz, chief operating officer freight Europe at DP World.
”The new service gives growers and retailers the confidence that their produce will arrive fresher, faster and in peak condition, while cutting emissions by 70 per cent.
”By investing in this Morocco to UK and the continent, we are making trade flow and helping our customers meet their sustainability goals.”
DP World will formally launch the new shipping service an event in Agadir, Morocco, on 18 September.
