Morocco to Host Largest High-Tech Tuna Plant
Morocco is set to become home to its largest high-tech tuna canning plant through a new partnership between Tunamax and Gaictech. The facility, located in the Marrakesh-Safi region, aims to significantly boost the country's local tuna production using advanced processing technologies.
The new facility is located in the Ecoparc of Berrechid, near Casablanca, a hub for industrial activity. Spanish engineering firm Gaictech, a global specialist in canning machinery, secured a contract worth nearly €6 million in 2023 to design and supply the entire factory for the Moroccan group Tunamax. This plant is designed to process approximately 15,000 tons of whole tuna annually, with a production capacity of more than 50 million cans per year. The project is distinguished by its high level of automation and traceability, designed to meet strict international standards for export to European and North American markets. Gaictech has provided a "turnkey" solution, meaning it designed and integrated the entire production line. The continuous line handles every stage of production: thawing, cooking, cleaning, filling, sealing, and sterilization, all the way to final palletizing for export. This investment represents a strategic shift for Morocco's fishing industry. By localizing the entire canning process, the country aims to capture a larger share of the tuna's value chain, which has historically been lost when unprocessed fish are exported. The project is expected to create direct and indirect jobs, boost local suppliers, and transfer significant industrial know-how to the Casablanca region.
