Morocco Emerges as Key Manufacturing Hub for European Auto and Textile Industries

Several European companies such as Inditex, Renault, Stellantis or Aciturri have chosen to set up in Morocco to increase their production and conquer new markets in Africa. "More and more Spanish companies are expressing their interest in investing or opening subsidiaries in this Maghreb country," confirms a Spanish source close to the business world in Morocco to EFE. "4% of European companies consider Morocco as an alternative sourcing location," notes for its part the Danish shipping company Maersk, in a recent article published on its page.

This trend is not new, but it has been reinforced in recent years, particularly in the textile industry. The Spanish company Inditex has stated that the majority of its factories are located in Spain and neighboring countries such as Morocco, Portugal or Turkey. "Proximity is one of the key criteria of our supply chain, which allows us to respond quickly to the market," said Inditex sources, stating that the establishment of its factories in Morocco has generated 94,563 indirect jobs.

In the automotive sector, the manufacturer Renault has set its sights on Morocco for about ten years, while the Stellantis group has set its sights on Kenitra. Today, many other European automakers have set up in the kingdom. The aeronautics sector is not spared by this trend. At the end of 2023, the Spanish group Aciturri created a factory in Casablanca in an industrial park focused on aeronautical production where companies such as Safran Nacelles, Bombardier, Hexcel or Thales are located.

Morocco presents "several characteristics that could make it an attractive nearby destination," says a World Bank report on the Moroccan economy, published in 2023. The kingdom will continue to attract foreign direct investment thanks in particular to its modern infrastructure, including the Tanger Med port.