CMA CGM’s CEO Rodolphe Saadé met Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune on 2 June 2025 to discuss potential investments worth up to €2 billion, reports Italian transport news service Transporto Europa. A central component of the talks was the development of the port of Oran, which CMA CGM aims to transform into a regional hub.
The proposal includes taking over the container terminal’s management and launching a new maritime link between Oran and Marseille, operated by La Méridionale, the group’s Ro-Ro subsidiary.
The project could create thousands of jobs and significantly expand Oran’s port capacity, according to Transporto Europa. CMA CGM already operates in nine Algerian ports, including Algiers and Béjaïa, but is now seeking more direct control over strategic infrastructure.
Discussions had previously stalled due to diplomatic tensions between France and Algeria. However, Transporto Europa notes that the June meeting signals a renewed push for cooperation, with Algeria positioned as a key transit point between Europe, West Africa, and the Sahel.
The African economic intelligence service Ecofin Agency added that CMA CGM’s interest in Algeria aligns with its wider African logistics strategy. The agency highlighted Oran’s potential role in boosting exports, transhipment, and industrial activity, and noted past conciliatory steps by CMA CGM, such as lifting congestion surcharges at Algerian ports, which were interpreted as gestures of long-term commitment.
Beyond Algeria, CMA CGM continues to expand across the continent through its subsidiaries CMA Terminals and CEVA Logistics. As Ecofin Agency reports, the group has increased port calls and inland logistics capacity in key locations such as Abidjan, Douala, Dakar, and Port-Said.
