On the Atlantic edge of North Africa, a vast new food factory has quietly begun reshaping the tuna trade.
In Casablanca, a Spanish-designed plant is starting full-scale operations, promising faster processing, cleaner production and export-ready tuna for European and North American supermarkets.
A new heavyweight in the global tuna trade
A Spanish engineering firm, Gaictech, has completed what is being described as Morocco’s largest industrial tuna processing plant, built for the Moroccan group Tunamax in the port city of Casablanca.
The facility focuses on every stage of the tuna value chain, from receiving frozen or fresh fish to sealing the final cans and pouches. The entire layout has been designed as a single integrated system, rather than a collection of separate lines bolted together.
The plant’s automation allows rapid processing, lower waste and full traceability, aligned with strict EU and US market rules.
That combination gives the site a strategic role in an industry long dominated by Asian hubs such as Thailand and the Philippines, and by established European processors in Spain, Portugal and Italy.
How Spanish technology underpins the Casablanca plant
Gaictech, which specialises in turnkey equipment for food factories, was responsible for designing, integrating and commissioning the plant’s production lines.
Its systems connect almost every step of the process:
- Reception and grading of the tuna
- Controlled cooking to preserve texture and flavour
- Cleaning and trimming of loins
- Filling of cans, jars or pouches
- Sealing and sterilisation under precise conditions
- Final packaging and palletising for export
The facility uses high levels of automation, from conveyor systems and smart weighing stations to digital monitoring of time, temperature and hygiene.
Traceability software links each batch of tuna to data on origin, processing time, temperature and destination client, creating an auditable digital trail.
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This kind of tracking is now a basic expectation for retailers in the European Union and North America, where regulators and consumers are increasingly focused on food safety, origin and environmental impact.
Why the plant matters for Morocco’s economy
The project goes far beyond a simple factory build. Moroccan authorities and industry players view it as part of a broader shift: keeping more of the value of their fish resources inside the country.
For years, much of Morocco’s tuna has been exported in less-processed form, with the higher-margin activities – cooking, canning, branding – taking place abroad. That meant local fishermen and ports benefited, but factories and industrial service companies often missed out.
By localising cooking, cleaning, canning and packaging, the plant aims to retain a larger share of tuna’s added value in Morocco.
The facility is expected to create hundreds of direct jobs on the production lines, mainly in processing, quality control and maintenance. Around that core, a wider ecosystem is forming in Casablanca and neighbouring regions:
| Sector | Expected impact |
|---|---|
| Transport and logistics | More freight movements to ports, cold-chain services and container handling |
| Packaging | Higher demand for cans, lids, labels and cardboard |
| Industrial services | Work for engineers, electricians, automation technicians and cleaners |
| Local suppliers | Greater use of regional firms for civil works, maintenance and spare parts |
For Morocco, which has positioned itself as a manufacturing base for cars, aviation and textiles, high-standard food processing is an increasingly important pillar. Tuna is especially attractive because demand for shelf-stable protein remains strong even in times of economic uncertainty.
Export ambitions: eyes on Europe and North America
Tunamax’s new complex is designed with export contracts in mind rather than just national consumption. A substantial share of production is already earmarked for supermarket chains and global brands.
Meeting their requirements involves more than hygiene certificates. Buyers ask for guaranteed volumes, consistent quality, precise packaging formats and strict delivery schedules. The plant’s scale and automation help with these conditions.
The factory aims to serve large, long-term contracts, positioning Casablanca as a reliable supply hub for branded tuna lines on foreign shelves.
Morocco’s proximity to major European ports also cuts shipping times compared with Asian competitors. That geographic edge can reduce transport costs and shrink the carbon footprint of deliveries, a growing factor in retailer decision-making.
Competing with Asian and European giants
Globally, tuna processing is highly competitive. Asian plants often benefit from lower production costs and decades of scale. European sites tend to win on reputation, long-established brands and tight integration with EU supermarkets.
The Casablanca plant tries to combine pieces of both models: cost advantages typical of North Africa, plus technology, certification and process control at a level closer to European standards.
Spanish involvement gives the project additional credibility with EU buyers, many of whom already work with Spanish engineering or import tuna from Spanish brands.
Spanish engineering companies widen their global reach
For Gaictech, the project is also a showcase. The company specialises in turnkey solutions, meaning it not only supplies machinery but also designs the plant layout, integrates the systems and oversees start-up.
That model has grown as food companies prefer single partners for complex upgrades rather than managing dozens of suppliers. In Casablanca, Gaictech handled:
- Design of production flows to avoid product cross-contamination
- Selection and integration of cooking, cooling and filling equipment
- Automation systems and digital control panels
- Training of local staff on operation and maintenance
The project strengthens Spain’s role as a reference in fish processing technology. Spanish yards and engineering firms already build vessels, cold storage systems and canning equipment for multiple countries with significant tuna fleets.
What this means for tuna on your plate
For consumers in London, New York or Berlin, a new plant in Casablanca may sound remote. Yet it could directly shape what arrives on supermarket shelves in a few years’ time.
Retailers looking for alternative supply sources, especially after recent disruptions in shipping lanes and raw material prices, may see Morocco as a way to diversify away from a handful of Asian plants. That can stabilise prices and protect against sudden shortages.
The emphasis on traceability also affects labels. Cans produced in Casablanca are likely to show clearer information on catch area, processing factory and possibly fishing method, depending on the brand’s policies.
Stronger traceability and local processing help buyers check that tuna complies with fishing rules, food safety laws and brand commitments.
For brands leaning into sustainability claims, sourcing from a facility that shares data in detail and sits close to destination markets can be a marketing asset.
Key concepts: traceability, added value and food safety
Three technical terms often appear in discussions of this project: traceability, added value and food safety standards.
Traceability means following a product’s path from fishing vessel to supermarket. In tuna, that usually includes data on:
- Where and when the fish was caught
- Which vessel and gear were used
- How the tuna was stored and transported
- Which plant processed and canned it
Added value refers to the economic worth created by transforming raw tuna into a ready-to-eat product. Cleaning, cooking, canning, branding and logistics all add value on top of the original catch. By doing those steps locally, Morocco keeps more of that value inside its borders.
Food safety standards involve strict limits on contaminants, evidence of hygienic handling and correct heat treatment to guarantee shelf stability. For canned tuna sold in Europe or the US, failing an inspection can mean blocked shipments and heavy financial losses.
Risks and opportunities for the regional tuna industry
A plant of this size brings both opportunities and challenges. On the positive side, it can stabilise demand for local fleets, support industrial jobs and encourage investment in cold storage, ports and training.
Yet there are risks if growth is not matched by careful management of tuna stocks. Overfishing could undermine the very resource that feeds the factory. That makes coordination with fisheries authorities and international organisations critical.
Another risk lies in market concentration. If a handful of large buyers control contracts, they can squeeze prices. Plant operators then face pressure on margins and might be tempted to cut corners on maintenance or labour. Transparent audits and strong local regulations help keep those pressures in check.
At the same time, the Casablanca complex can act as a model for other African coastal states seeking to move up the seafood value chain. If replicated with attention to sustainability, such projects can shift parts of the global tuna business closer to the waters where the fish are actually caught, reshaping trade flows over the next decade.
Originally posted 2026-03-03 14:31:20.