The manufacturing sector in Morocco is displaying a notable sense of optimism regarding its production and sales forecasts for the upcoming three months, as indicated by the latest report from Bank Al-Maghrib (BAM). This positive outlook encompasses nearly all industrial branches, with the exception of the chemical, petrochemical, textile, and leather industries, where a decline in production is anticipated. These insights are drawn from BAM's recent monthly survey, which evaluates the economic climate within the industrial sector.
Furthermore, the survey revealed that over 25% of surveyed companies express uncertainties concerning the future trajectory of their production and sales. Despite this apprehension, the data collected from March indicates a marked improvement in industrial activity, with both production and sales experiencing upward trends. Notably, the utilization rate of production capacity (TUC) reached an encouraging 78% during this period.
In terms of sector-specific performance, production saw increases in the chemical and petrochemical sectors as well as in mechanical and metallurgical industries. Conversely, the agro-food sector remained stable, while the textile and leather segments reported a decrease in output. On the sales front, there was a general increase across all sectors, with notable growth in both local and export markets.
However, when examining the order volumes, a decline was noted, particularly within the textile and leather industries and the chemical and petrochemical sectors, while the mechanical and metallurgical industries experienced a rise in orders. Overall, the order books for most sectors are currently below normal levels, except for the mechanical and metallurgical sectors where they are at standard levels.
As reported by leseco.ma.
