Rabat- Morocco’s industrial manufacturing production has slightly increased in the first quarter of 2018, thanks to a rise in automotive industry production.
The Moroccan High Commission for Planning (HCP), in charge of economic, demographic, and social statistics, displayed in its latest report growth indices for industrial manufacturing production, energy, and construction.
Morocco’s automotive and beverage manufacturing industries have both increased production in the first quarter.
The report stated that the Capacity Utilization rate (UCS) in this industry stands at 75 percent and considered the level of order books at a normal rate in the same period.
HCP noted a decrease in metal production, with the exception of machinery equipment, in addition to a drop of paperwork and pulp production.
Another decrease in the first quarter is that of the energy industry, which includes electricity production and distribution.
On the other hand, the extractive industry production remained stable at 21.0 percent.
For the environmental industry, the HCP noted an 83 percent UCS rate and an increase in the number of entrepreneurs, due to sustained growth in the water capture, treatment, and distribution activity.
With respect to employment, the workforce in the sector has remained stable during the same period.
For the construction sector, the report noted both an increase and a decrease in activity; there was a decrease in civil engineering and an increase in specialized construction work.
Overall, the report emphasized that the construction sector was in a “stable” condition. Order books are also considered normal at 69 percent by all CEOs in the construction sector.
Industrial production in the second quarter of 2018
For the second quarter, which ends in June, company heads in the manufacturing industry have forecasted an increase in the sector’s production.
Production in the food and chemical industries is expected rise, but non-metallic mineral production is expected to decrease.
With regard to the workforce, the sector heads predict that employment will remain stable.
The energy industry, chiefly electric production and distribution, gas and air conditioning production, are expected to increase throughout the second quarter.
Company heads in the energy sector are also positive that their workforce will remain stable.
On the other hand, the increase in phosphate production resulted in expectations that the extractive industry will grow sharply in the second quarter, despite an expected decline in the workforce.
The environment industry anticipates a stable working environment and an increase in production, especially concerning the production and distribution of potable water.
The CEOs of the construction sector expect that their production will increase, especially in the specialized construction area. Employment stability is also suggested.
