Tunisia is pushing forward with plans to launch a regular container shipping route connecting Italy, Tunisia, and Libya, in a bid to build an integrated logistics platform at the heart of the central Mediterranean, the head of the Tunisian Maritime Cluster said.
The initiative, currently in an advanced study phase, aims to establish a “logistics backbone” that can respond structurally to recent global trade disruptions, according to cluster president Emna Sohlobji. Speaking to Mosaique FM, she outlined a weekly rotation that would include a strategic stop at the southern port of Zarzis before continuing on to Libyan ports.
The project goes beyond simply increasing roll-on/roll-off and container traffic, Sohlobji explained. It seeks to develop a fully integrated supply chain linking port infrastructure with land corridors, with a particular eye on sub-Saharan African markets. Through this effort, Tunisia hopes to cement its role as a regional logistics hub.
Maritime lifeline
Maritime transport is Tunisia’s primary economic artery, handling between 96% and 98% of the country’s foreign trade. With more than 1,300 kilometers of Mediterranean coastline, Tunisia sits as a natural gateway between southern Europe, North Africa, and routes heading south.
The country’s port system is managed by the Office of Merchant Marine and Ports (OMMP), which oversees eight main commercial ports. Rades remains the dominant hub for container and ro-ro traffic, though it continues to struggle with congestion and operational delays. Zarzis, meanwhile, is steadily strengthening its role in connections with Libya.
A rocky road to stability
During the 2025-2026 period, Tunisia’s port sector is undergoing a transition, with deeper Euro-Mediterranean integration and an expansion of short-sea routes to Europe. Previous attempts to establish stable maritime links along this corridor have failed to gain traction, largely due to instability in Libya.
Now, the goal is institutional and commercial stabilization.
“The studies currently underway aim to precisely define the operational modalities and secure the commercial and institutional partnerships necessary to make this route a stable vector for trans-Mediterranean trade,” Sohlobji said.
If launched, the Italy-Tunisia-Libya corridor could mark a significant step forward for Italian exporters, offering faster and more efficient access not only to the Libyan market—currently undergoing partial reconstruction and showing strong demand for materials—but also for transshipment of goods to emerging markets in deep sub-Saharan Africa. That would further underscore the strategic importance of Italian-North African logistics networks.
TunisianMonitorNews
