flag Morocco Morocco: Trade Profile

In this page: Foreign Trade in Figures | Trade Compliance | Standards

 

Foreign Trade in Figures

Morocco is very open to foreign trade, which represents 101% of its GDP (World Bank, latest data available). According to the latest figures from the Office des Changes, in terms of sectors, in 2022 exports were led by natural and chemical fertilizers (27.1%), cars (26.11%), agricultural (19%), and textile products (10.3%); whereas energy products were the main imports (20.8%), followed by wheat (3.5%), vehicle parts (3.2%), plastics and ammonia (2.9% each).

The country's main trade partners were Spain (19.6%) and France (18.7%), followed by Italy (4.5%) and Germany (4.1%). Spain was also the main supplier (14.1%), ahead of France (10.6%), China (10%), and Turkey (5.2% - data OdC for 2021). While European Union countries were the main trading partners (56.6% of total exports, 45.4% of imports), Morocco has also been strengthening its commercial integration with the rest of Africa, namely through the ratification of the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement.

Morocco has a structurally negative trade balance, which continues to deplete its foreign exchange reserves. In 2022, the overall trade deficit was estimated at 11.5% of GDP by the World Bank (from 9.3% one year earlier). According to WTO data, in 2022 Morocco exported USD 41.4 billion worth of goods, recording an increase of 15.7% year-on-year; whereas the value of its imports stood at USD 71.8 billion, 23.7% more than the previous year. Morocco is a net exporter of services, with USD 21.9 billion in exports (+42.5% y-o-y, thanks to the good performance of the tourism sector) against USD 10.7 billion in imports (+25.3% y-o-y). The latest figures from the Office des Changes show that in the first six months of 2023, the merchandise exports of Morocco showed a significant increase, reaching MAD 221.3 billion, representing a rise of 1.9% compared to the previous year. This growth was primarily driven by the automotive, textile and leather, as well as the electronics and electricity sectors. Goods imports recorded a decrease of 1.6%, primarily attributable to the decline in purchases of semi-finished products, energy products, and raw materials. Overall, Morocco's imports totalled MAD 359.5 billion in the period under review.

 
Foreign Trade Values 20192020202120222023
Imports of Goods (million USD) 50,73443,83158,03471,80768,632
Exports of Goods (million USD) 29,13227,15935,84341,48141,642
Imports of Services (million USD) 9,6317,1408,57310,74612,014
Exports of Services (million USD) 19,35313,86715,41621,98126,621

Source: World Trade Organisation (WTO), Latest data available.

 
Foreign Trade Indicators 20182019202020212022
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) 77.376.068.875.098.6
Trade Balance (million USD) -20,253-19,771-15,540-19,967-26,462
Trade Balance (Including Service) (million USD) -12,131-10,049-8,813-13,125-15,227
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 4.82.1-11.911.817.7
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) 3.85.1-15.08.721.5
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 43.441.938.142.055.1
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) 33.834.130.832.943.5

Source: World Bank, Latest data available.

 
Foreign Trade Forecasts 20232024 (e)2025 (e)2026 (e)2027 (e)
Volume of exports of goods and services (Annual % change) -0.82.83.64.03.3
Volume of imports of goods and services (Annual % change) -1.83.93.82.73.2

Source: IMF, World Economic Outlook, Latest data available.

Note: (e) Estimated Data

 

Main Partner Countries

Main Customers
(% of Exports)
2022
Spain 19.6%
France 19.1%
India 6.4%
Brazil 4.0%
United Kingdom 3.8%
See More Countries 47.1%
Main Suppliers
(% of Imports)
2022
Spain 14.1%
France 10.6%
China 10.0%
United States 7.4%
Saudi Arabia 6.5%
See More Countries 51.4%

Source: UN Comtrade Database, Latest data available.

 

Main Products

42.2 bn USD of products exported in 2022
Mineral or chemical fertilisers containing two or...Mineral or chemical fertilisers containing two or three of the fertilising elements nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium; other fertilisers (excl. pure animal or vegetable fertilisers or mineral or chemical nitrogenous, phosphatic or potassic fertilisers); animal, vegetable, mineral or chemical fertilisers in tablets or similar forms or in packages of a gross weight of <= 10 kg 16.2%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 12.4%
Insulated "incl. enamelled or anodised" wire,...Insulated "incl. enamelled or anodised" wire, cable "incl. coaxial cable" and other insulated electric conductors, whether or not fitted with connectors; optical fibre cables, made up of individually sheathed fibres, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors 9.1%
Diphosphorus pentaoxide; phosphoric acid;...Diphosphorus pentaoxide; phosphoric acid; polyphosphoric acids, whether or not chemically defined 5.3%
Women's or girls' suits, ensembles, jackets,...Women's or girls' suits, ensembles, jackets, blazers, dresses, skirts, divided skirts, trousers, bib and brace overalls, breeches and shorts (excl. knitted or crocheted, wind-jackets and similar articles, slips, petticoats and panties, tracksuits, ski suits and swimwear) 3.2%
See More Products 53.7%
72.6 bn USD of products imported in 2022
Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous...Petroleum oils and oils obtained from bituminous minerals (excl. crude); preparations containing >= 70% by weight of petroleum oils or of oils obtained from bituminous minerals, these oils being the basic constituents of the preparations, n.e.s.; waste oils containing mainly petroleum or bituminous minerals 13.1%
Petroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbonsPetroleum gas and other gaseous hydrocarbons 3.6%
Wheat and meslinWheat and meslin 3.5%
Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally...Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons, incl. station wagons and racing cars (excl. motor vehicles of heading 8702) 2.9%
Ammonia, anhydrous or in aqueous solutionAmmonia, anhydrous or in aqueous solution 2.9%
See More Products 74.0%

Source: UN Comtrade Database, Latest data available.

 
 

To go further, check out our service Import/Export flows.

 

Main Services

20.1 bn USD of services exported in 2022
45.91%
20.83%
17.50%
5.32%
5.22%
2.10%
1.50%
0.66%
0.64%
0.31%
0.01%
10.6 bn USD of services imported in 2022
49.09%
17.85%
11.97%
8.02%
4.44%
2.78%
1.67%
1.49%
1.40%
0.69%
0.61%

Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest data available.

 

Exchange Rate System

Local Currency
Moroccan Dirham (MAD)
Exchange Rate Regime
From fixed to a basket of currencies
Level of Currency Instability
Weak
Exchange Rate on :

 
 
Monetary Indicators 20162017201820192020
Moroccan Dirham (MAD) - Average Annual Exchange Rate For 1 THB 0.280.290.290.310.30

Source: World Bank, Latest data available.

 
 

Find out all the exchange rates daily on our service Currency Converter.

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Trade Compliance

International Conventions
Member of the World Trade Organization (WTO)
Party to the Kyoto Protocol
Party to the Washington Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora
Party to the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and Their Disposal
International Economic Cooperation
Morocco is a member of the following international economic organisations: IMF, Development (AFESD), ICC, Arab Maghreb Union (AMU), WTO, Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), G-77, Arab League, among others. For the full list of economic and other international organisations in which participates Morocco click here. International organisation membership of Morocco is also outlined here.
Free Trade Agreements
The complete and up-to-date list of Free Trade Agreements signed by Morocco can be consulted here.
Party of the ATA Convention on Temporary Admissions and Use of the Carnets
Yes

As a Reminder, the ATA is a System Allowing the Free Movement of Goods Across Frontiers and Their Temporary Admission Into a Customs Territory With Relief From Duties and Taxes. The Goods Are Covered By a Single Document Known as the ATA Carnet That is Secured By an International Guarantee System.
Party of the TIR Convention
Yes

As a Reminder, the TIR Convention and its Transit Regime Contribute to the Facilitation of International Transport, Especially International Road Transport, Not Only in Europe and the Middle East, But Also in Other Parts of the World, Such as Africa and Latin America.
Accompanying Documents For Imports
Goods dispatched to Morocco must be accompanied by the following documents:
- the unique data folder
- commercial invoice in triplicates.
- a plant health certificate for fruits and vegetables
- a sanitary certificate, a radioactive non-contamination certificate and a slaughtering certificate according to Islamic rites for meats
- EUR1 Form to benefit preferential rates reserved for the European Union
- transport documents and the packing list

To go further, check out our service Shipping documents.

Free-trade zones
Instituted by Law 19-94 (Dahir No. 1-95-1 dated January 26, 1995), export processing zones are identified areas of the customs territory where they are authorized, exempted from customs regulations, foreign trade and exchange control, all industrial and commercial export activities as well as linked service activities. The free zones are: Export Processing Zone of Tangier; Free Zones at Tanger Med Ksar el Majaz Mellousa 1 and 2; Free Zone in Dakhla and Laayoune; Free Storage Zone of hydrocarbons: Kebdana and Nador; Export Processing Zone in Kenitra. The Moroccan authorities have officially started the construction of the new free zone in Castillejos, next to the border with Ceuta.
For Further Information
Customs and Excise and Indirect Taxes Service (only in French)
Moroccan Center for Export Promotion in French.
Non Tariff Barriers
Pursuant to provisions of article 1 of the law no. 13-89 relating to foreign trade, goods are free to import. However, there are quantitative restrictions on imports relating to certain particular products such as powders and explosives, secondhand clothes or the retreads and used tyres, which require import licenses. The list of goods subject to quantitative restriction is available on the Moroccan Customs.
Sectors or Products For Which Commercial Disagreements Have Been Registered With the WTO
None
Assessment of Commercial Policy
Morocco’s commercial policy, as seen by the WTO
Barriers to exchanges, inventoried by the United States
Barriers to exchanges, inventoried by the EU

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Standards

Integration in the International Standards Network
 Member of the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO).
Obligation to Use Standards
Voluntary
Classification of Standards
For standards of national origin: NM + business sector + sub-sector + index of classification - then possibly the year
For standards depicting international standards: NM + ISO + the ISO standard number - then possibly the year
Assessment of the System of Standardization
Standardisation is a recent activity in Morocco. Excepting few export businesses, managers do not practice it.
Standards production has nevertheless soared during these last years: there were 5,778 standards in end 2005 against 926 ten years earlier. They are particularly concentrated in the Building and Public Works sector. The responsible body for standard wants to increase the number of certified product norms by 15 to 20% within the next three years.
The standards are inspired generally from French standards and are largely reconciled with international standards.
Online Consultation of Standards
Online Standards, the IMANOR catalog
Certification Organisations
Morocco Overview The Moroccan Industrial Standardization

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Latest Update: July 2024