Morocco's trade deficit increased by 10.1 percent

  • Rabat, Morocco
  • 15 September 2018
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Morocco's foreign exchange office revealed a 10.1 percent rise in the trade deficit, at 137.9 billion dirhams ($14.7 billion) in the first eight months of 2018 compared to the same period of last year. Imports grew 10.2 percent, outstripping a 10.2 increase in exports.
Morocco’s Imports of Energy rose by 18.8 percent, while imports of equipment increased by 12.5 percent and finished goods by 6.6 percent. On the other hand, exports of automotive parts rose by 17.7 percent, phosphate and its derivatives (fertilizer) jumped by 17.6 percent, and agricultural products increased by 4.6 percent.
Moroccan foreign reserves fell 3.6 percent year-on-year to attain 225.8 billion dirhams, according to the data from the Central Bank, while tourism revenues grew by 1.2 percent from January to August compared to the same period of 2017 to reach 48.58 billion dirhams, and remittances from Moroccans increased by 1 percent to attain 44.875 billion dirhams.

Source (Economic Bulletin website, Edited)

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