Morocco’s Trade Deficit Widens as Imports Outpace Export Growth

Moroccan imports have risen by 3.7% according to TelQuel, from 280.7 to over 291 billion dirhams (MDH), from January to July 2019. They mainly concern the acquisition of high value-added capital goods. Even if exports have also increased, the increase in value is twice lower than that of imports.

Morocco, according to TelQuel, exports more products and services in the aeronautics sector, a sector that recorded an 11.5% increase, with nearly one billion dirhams in growth, over the period from January to July 2019.

Regarding investments by Moroccans residing abroad (MRE), the note from the Office des Changes explains that they are declining. The document talks about a 380 MDH drop. According to the institution, it is the third consecutive year that reveals the fall in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI). Their revenues, which were estimated at 21.7 MDH in 2017, fell to 20.3 MDH in 2018, and below 19.4 MDH in 2019.