Morocco’s $164 billion trade gap linked to large trade volume, report says

Morocco recorded a trade gap of about $164 billion between 2013 and 2022, a figure largely tied to the country’s high volume of imports and exports rather than unusual economic risk, according to a report by Global Financial Integrity.

The report, which analyzed trade flows across more than 200 countries using over 600 indicators, found that larger trading economies tend to show bigger discrepancies in reported trade values. In this context, Morocco’s gap reflects the scale and activity of its trade rather than irregularities.

Within the region, Morocco ranks behind United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which reported trade gaps of around $457 billion and $320 billion, respectively. However, Morocco’s gap exceeds those of Egypt and Iran, estimated at $131 billion and $107 billion. Other countries in the region, including Kuwait, Tunisia, Oman, Qatar and Algeria, reported smaller discrepancies.

The report emphasized that total trade gaps should be assessed alongside their share of overall trade. In Morocco’s case, the $164 billion gap represents about 20% of total trade, close to the regional average of 21.7%. By comparison, Algeria’s gap accounts for a slightly higher share of its trade at 21.4%, despite a lower total value.

According to the report, such discrepancies often result from standard trade practices, including differences in how goods are valued in shipping and customs documentation. While these gaps can point to potential risks, the report does not consider them evidence of illegal activity.

Global Financial Integrity called on countries to improve transparency and monitoring of trade data, including stronger coordination between financial and customs authorities.