Trade volume between Morocco and other African countries increased from MAD 36 billion in 2013 to MAD 52.7 billion in 2023, marking a 45% rise, Omar Hejira, Secretary of State for Foreign Trade, said Tuesday at the Upper House.
Major exports to Africa include fertilizers, fish, automobiles, automotive cables, and food products. Imports from African countries totaled MAD 20 billion in 2023, consisting mainly of coal, dates, and plastic materials, Hejira said.
Responding to a question on strengthening trade ties with Africa, Hejira said that Moroccan exports to African markets reached MAD 32.7 billion in 2023, a 100% increase compared to 2013. The growth rate outpaced Moroccan export increases to other global markets.
He also revealed that a ministry study estimated Morocco’s additional export capacity at MAD 120 billion, with 10%—about MAD 12 billion—potentially directed to African markets. Priority sectors for these opportunities include the automotive industry, agri-food, textiles, and mechanical industries, covering around 200 products and 1,200 markets.
Hejira identified transportation gaps as a challenge to expanding African trade and announced a new maritime route linking Agadir to Dakar, with extensions to other nations.
The official highlighted the opportunities presented by the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which includes 53 countries, nearly 1.3 billion consumers, and Morocco as a member, to boost trade and economic collaboration.