Beni Mellal – According to a recent report by the Moroccan portal Maghreb Online, based on data from the Spanish Institute of Exports and Investments (ICEX), more than 360 Spanish companies have relocated their production to Morocco.
The move comes as businesses seek to navigate the policies imposed by the European Union, as reported by Atalayar, a Spanish media outlet.
The ICEX data, initially reported by the Spanish media Vozpópuli in February 2024, reveals that while some Spanish companies have fully delocalized their production, others are operating through subsidiaries or in partnership with Moroccan companies.
This shift is attributed to the simplification of customs procedures and the potential savings of an estimated 100 million euros in customs duties once Morocco eliminates tariffs on imports of 70 percent of agricultural and fisheries products.
Among the companies making the move, around 10% are from the agri-food industry, including notable names such as Ebro Foods (Brillante, SOS) and Borges (nuts). “There are more and more Spanish companies showing interest in investing or opening subsidiaries in the Maghreb country,” a Spanish source close to the business sector in Morocco told EFE.
The textile giant Inditex has also expanded its production to Morocco. Company sources explained that “this allows us to respond to demand and adapt to new social and environmental standards quickly and efficiently.” They went on to say that “proximity is one of the key criteria of our supply chain, which allows us to respond quickly to the market.” Inditex reports that it guarantees indirect employment to 94,563 people in Morocco.
Spain remains Morocco’s largest trading partner, surpassing France and China in both exports and imports. In 2021, Spanish exports to the North African Kingdom reached a record high of 9.5 billion euros.
The trend extends beyond Spain, with other European companies such as Renault (France) and Stellantis (Netherlands) also opting to relocate part of their production to Morocco. Both automotive industry companies have established headquarters in the North African country.
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