30% of Morocco’s Wholesale Businesses Reported Sales Increases in 2021

A total of 30% of wholesale businesses in Morocco reported an increase in their volume of sales in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to the previous three months, driven by a demand for industrial equipment and agricultural goods including livestock.

Rabat – A total of 30% of wholesale businesses in Morocco reported an increase in their volume of sales in the fourth quarter of 2021, compared to the previous three months, driven by a demand for industrial equipment and agricultural goods including livestock.

Around 14% of wholesale businesses – companies that sell things in bulk to smaller companies, ranging from food to electrical equipment – saw a decrease in sales in 2021 compared to the previous year according to a survey from Morocco’s Higher Planning Commission (HCP), a state-owned research institute, released on Tuesday.

However, increased sales do not necessarily translate into increased revenues, and it is not clear if wholesale businesses saw revenues go up.

A total of 42% of wholesale businesses surveyed by the HCP reported an overall rise in the price of goods in 2021.

Around 80% of companies surveyed said the size of the labor force did not increase or decrease over the fourth quarter of 2021.

Nearly Non-financial commercial activities declined for 44% of the businesses surveyed by HCP, while 34% of surveyed companies perceived improved business activity.

Business owners noted a decline in telecommunication, hospitality, and restaurant-related activities, while air and land travel, warehouse, and transit-related activities all improved.

Consumer demand for non-financial commercial activities has remained unchanged for 54% of businesses, and less than usual for 38%. The labor force remained unchanged for 64% of businesses within the sector.

In 2022, 53% of business owners in the service, which includes companies operating in the health sector, expect activities to remain stable, while 25% expect business to fall, and 22% expect business to gain more momentum.

Demand for non-financial commercial activities is to remain unchanged, 60% of surveyed businesses observe. 26% of businesses projected an increase in the size of their labor force.

As for wholesale activities, 69% of wholesale businesses expect sales volume to remain unchanged while 18% expect a rise in sales volume.