Nearshoring powered by new gateways: Three questions to M’hamed Chraïbi
By Hendrik Durst I 3 minute read
18/03/2026
In the latest episode of the DACHSER podcast Network Talk, M’hamed Chraïbi, Regional Managing Director Maghreb and Türkiye, talks about changes in global supply chains, the growing importance of North Africa and Türkiye for European industries, and DACHSER’s investments in the region. We asked him three key questions.
Why are countries such as Morocco, Tunisia and Türkiye currently attracting so much attention from European industrial companies?
M’hamed Chraïbi: Global tensions and the resulting uncertainties in international supply chains have fundamentally changed expectations. Today, our customers are primarily looking for stability, proximity to their sales markets and short response times. This is exactly where nearshoring comes into play – and where the strengths of the Maghreb and Türkiye lie. Morocco, Tunisia and Türkiye are geographically close to Europe and offer highly competitive production costs. At the same time, these countries have undergone significant industrial development in recent years, particularly in sectors such as automotive, textiles and electronics. For many companies, the region has therefore become a strategic alternative to distant sourcing markets in Asia.
For many companies, the region has become a strategic alternative to distant sourcing markets in Asia.
What differentiates the individual countries in the region – and what specific advantages do they offer?
Türkiye has the most diversified industrial base in the region. In addition to automotive and textiles, the food industry also plays an important role. A key advantage is the direct road connection to Europe, especially towards Eastern Europe and Germany. Tunisia has long been an established production location for European industries, particularly in the automotive and textile sectors. Highly competitive labor costs and highly specialized industrial parks make the country attractive. Morocco, in turn, is the African country closest to Europe – only 14 kilometers separate it from Spain. This geographical proximity, combined with substantial investments in infrastructure, ports, airports and highways, creates major advantages for supply chains. A central pillar is the Port of Tangier Med, now the largest port in the Mediterranean and in Africa.
You can hear the full interview with Aat van der Meer in the third episode of our English-language podcast Network Talk.
In recent years, we have systematically worked to fully integrate Morocco, Tunisia and Türkiye into our European network.
How does DACHSER ensure that customers in the region receive the same reliability and service quality as in Europe?
DACHSER has been active in the Maghreb region for more than 40 years. In recent years, we have systematically worked to fully integrate Morocco, Tunisia and Türkiye into our European network. A key step was comprehensive IT integration: today, we use the same systems as in Europe, ensuring transparency for our customers and seamless processes across the entire supply chain. At the same time, we have significantly increased our frequencies, with daily connections between Europe and the region in both directions.
Central gateways in Germany, France and Spain consolidate cargo flows and ensure reliable transit times. Customs processes are also digital and handled upstream, saving valuable time at the borders. Another milestone is our new logistics center in Tangier, scheduled to open in June 2026: a state-of-the-art facility covering 7.5 hectares, with 40,000 square meters of warehouse space – DACHSER’s largest investment outside Europe to date. This will create a high-performance hub connecting Europe, North Africa and, in the future, West Africa.
To learn more about the strategic importance of the Maghreb and Türkiye and DACHSER’s future direction in these regions, listen to the latest episode of our Network Talk podcast. The full episode with M’hamed Chraïbi is available on all major podcast platforms.
