Morocco’s Construction Sector Shows Signs of Recovery as Cement Sales Improve

In the cement sector, the volumes delivered reached 1,249,449 tons, slightly up compared to September which had totaled 1,244,773 tons. Cumulatively, cement sales amounted to 9,932,843 tons at the end of the first ten months of the year. Thus, the cumulative decline since the beginning of the year has been reduced to -12% at the end of October, instead of -18.5% at the end of June. For David Toledano, president of the Federation of Construction Materials (FMC), "this is excellent news", reports Les Inspirations Éco.

Regarding bank loans granted to real estate developers, there is a 143 MDH increase at the end of September or +0.24% compared to the same period last year. On the housing side, loans have increased by 4.745 BMDH at the end of September, i.e. 2.2% compared to 2019.

These indicators, particularly those relating to public procurement, reassure the operators in the sector, even if nothing is clear in terms of the relaunch of social housing in particular. Very important figures announced (230 BMDH of public investment in major projects) are good signs in their eyes. "We hope that this will boost activities in the sector," says one of them.

The same source reports that the government plans to substitute 34 BMDH of imports with national industrial production. A mine of market capture for FMC professionals: "There are innovative projects that are currently 100% imported, whereas they are feasible locally with Moroccan raw materials. Projects have notably been developed in partnership with textile companies and the Ministry of Industry concerning thermal insulation materials, improved or stabilized materials with technical textiles... These new locally developed products can substitute for imports," says Toledano.