One billion dollars in Moroccan exports to China in 2023

Since the historic royal visit of His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God preserve Him, to China in May 2016, Moroccan-Chinese trade exchanges have experienced a strong boost, solidifying China’s position as Morocco’s third-largest trading partner.

According to a study of data obtained by the African Chinese Cooperation Association for Development from the Chinese Customs database for 2023, we observed, with great satisfaction and delight, a 7.81% increase in the volume of Moroccan exports to China, reaching nearly one billion US dollars, a record figure since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries and the signing of the first trade agreement in November 1958.

These positive results reflect the significant attention that Moroccan economic operators have paid to the development opportunities offered by the vast Chinese consumer market.

Electrical equipment and related industrial products exports ranked first for the second consecutive year, valued at $578.54 million (578,544,213), accounting for 59% of total exports. These consisted mainly of integrated circuits, electrical control panels, transistors, and electrical switching units.

Mining and Metal products exports ranked second with a slight decline compared to 2022, valued at $218.14 million (218,142,164), representing 22.24% of total exports, distributed primarily as follows: copper ore worth $57.95 million (57,950,152), zinc ore worth $27.67 million (27,677,973), copper and zinc alloys worth $24.36 million (24,359,777), lead ore worth $21.27 million (21,270,126), silver ore worth $18.65 million (18,651,628), copper waste and scrap worth $16.59 million (16,593,750), and manganese ore worth $6.5 million (6,502,047).

Textiles and leather products ranked third with a value of $90.44 million (90,444,355), accounting for 9.22% of total exports, where textile products reached $87.38 million (87,380,638) and leather exports $3.06 million (3,063,717).

Moroccan agricultural and fishery exports increased to $57.34 million (57,345,743), comprising 5.84% of total exports. This included, in order: fish oil worth $27.95 million (27,948,277), fishmeal for animal feed worth $9.59 million (9,590,270), squid and other fish and seafood worth $7.95 million (7,952,213), and frozen strawberries worth $4.75 million (4,757,378).

Parallel to the continued growth of Chinese investments in Morocco, particularly in manufacturing electric vehicle batteries, which relies primarily on abundant minerals and raw materials in our country and the West African region, Moroccan exports to the Chinese market are expected to increase over the next five years.

Morocco may become the first non-oil country in Africa and the Arab world to achieve a trade balance surplus in its exchanges with China.

This would set an inspiring model for other developing countries to benefit from trade with China to strengthen their economies and improve living conditions for their citizens.