Morocco’s trade deficit stood at more than 72.62 billion dirhams (MMDH) at the end of March 2023, up 13.5% compared to the same period a year earlier, according to the Office des Changes.
Imports increased by 10.1% to more than 182.17 billion dirhams and exports rose by 8% to 109.54 billion dirhams, specifies the Office in a document on the monthly indicators of foreign trade for the month of March, noting that the coverage rate stood at 60.1% against 61.3% a year earlier.
The increase in imports of goods affected the majority of product groups, underlines the Office, indicating that purchases of capital goods increased by 22% to 38.87 billion dirhams, following the growth in purchases of diesel engines. pistons (+49.1%) and those of aircraft parts (+37.3%).
Imports of finished consumer products increased by 15.1%, mainly due to the increase in imports of parts and parts for passenger cars by 46.2%.
Concerning the imports of energy products and those of food products, they recorded increases of 15.7% and 16.9% respectively.
On the other hand, purchases of raw products fell by 6.5%, following the decline in purchases of raw and unrefined sulfur by 45.3%.
Similarly, imports of semi-finished products fell by 6.7%, notes the Office, explaining this decline by the decrease in purchases of ammonia by 46.6%.
With regard to exports of goods, their increase concerned the majority of sectors, essentially those of the automobile, electronics and electricity, and textiles and leather.