Rabat – Morocco’s automotive exports rose 14.5% year-on-year to MAD 116 billion ($11.69 billion) by the end of August 2026, according to the latest foreign trade indicators released by the Foreign Exchange Office.
The increase was supported by growth across the sector’s main export segments. Exports from the manufacturing segment increased by 19% to reach MAD 44.747 billion ($4.50 billion), while wiring exports rose by 13.9% to MAD 44.777 billion ($4.51 billion).
Exterior equipment exports recorded the strongest growth, increasing by 43.6% to MAD 3.769 billion ($379 million).
Overall, automotive exports increased by nearly MAD 14.7 billion ($1.48 billion) compared with the same period in 2025.
Morocco’s aerospace sector also recorded strong growth during the first eight months of 2026, with the country’s aerospace exports increasing by 21.5% to MAD 22.969 billion ($2.31 billion).
Assembly exports rose by 26.9% to MAD 15.874 billion ($1.60 billion), while Electrical Wiring Interconnection Systems (EWIS) exports increased by 10.9% to reach MAD 7.019 billion ($707 million).
Agriculture and agri-food exports also increased, rising by 8.3% to MAD 65.119 billion ($6.56 billion).
Exports from the food industry grew by 13.6% to MAD 31.143 billion ($3.14 billion), while agriculture, forestry, and hunting activities also recorded increases.
However, some sectors posted declines. Exports of phosphates and derivatives fell 6%, while textiles and leather exports decreased by 5.6%. Electronics and electricity exports declined 2.9%.
Despite these decreases, Morocco’s total exports increased 8.7% to MAD 334.892 billion ($33.72 billion) by the end of August, compared with MAD 307.95 billion ($31.02 billion during the same period in 2025.
Trade deficit widens
The rise in exports came alongside stronger growth in imports, contributing to a wider trade deficit.
Imports increased 15.8% to MAD 617.5 billion ($62.17 billion), compared with MAD 533.24 billion ($53.68 billion) a year earlier.
The trade deficit consequently widened 25.4% to MAD 282.61 billion ($28.45 billion), up from MAD 225.28 billion ($22.68 billion) at the end of August 2025.
Imports of finished capital goods rose 19.3%, an increase of MAD 24.076 billion ($2.42 billion). The rise was partly driven by higher purchases of aircraft parts, utility vehicles, and aircraft and other air or spacecraft.
The energy import bill also increased 32.6%, or around MAD 23.7 billion ($2.39 billion), mainly due to a 44.9% increase in purchases of gas oils and fuel oils.
Meanwhile, Morocco’s services balance maintained a surplus of MAD 118.25 billion ($11.90 billion), up 13.4% from MAD 104.26 billion ($10.50 billion) a year earlier.
