As of August 26, 2026, the Turkish exports to Morocco have witnessed a remarkable increase of 11.7% since January, despite the Moroccan government's efforts to protect its domestic production. This surge has reignited discussions surrounding the free trade agreement that appears to favor Ankara significantly. Between January and July 2026, Turkey exported goods worth $2.43 billion to Morocco, marking a significant rise compared to the same timeframe in 2025, as reported by the Turkish Exporters Council through the Anadolu Agency.
Morocco continues to hold its position as one of Turkey's primary African markets, surpassing Egypt, which imported just over $2.3 billion in Turkish products during the same period. On a continental scale, Ankara's exports to Africa reached $13.3 billion, reflecting a 12.6% increase. However, recent trends suggest a slowdown in Moroccan imports from Turkey. For instance, in July alone, Turkish sales to Morocco fell by 24.8%, amounting to $277.5 million. Despite this short-term decline, it does not negate the substantial growth observed earlier in the year.
The Turkish commercial offensive in Africa prominently features sectors such as automotive, chemical products, textiles, agri-food, machinery, electronics, steel, and construction materials. Furthermore, Morocco is increasingly attracting a growing number of Turkish enterprises eager to engage in its large-scale projects, particularly those linked to the upcoming 2030 World Cup.
Revised Agreement Still Imbalanced
This growth in exports occurs in the context of Morocco tightening the regulations of its free trade agreement with Turkey, which came into effect in 2021. The revision allowed Morocco to list 1,200 products on a negative list while reinstating customs duties of up to 90% on certain goods. This measure particularly affected textiles, clothing, leather, automotive, wood, electricity, and metallurgy. The goal was to mitigate the worsening trade deficit and safeguard local industries from the competitive pricing of Turkish products.
However, Moroccan textile professionals remain concerned, as the Association of Moroccan Textile and Apparel Industries argues that the agreement continues to undermine local production. They are calling for strengthened controls regarding the origin of products, the quantities imported, and the raw materials used, alongside a more balanced trade framework. The reported figure of $2.43 billion reflects only the declared exports from Turkey to Morocco, making it insufficient to calculate the current bilateral deficit without corresponding data on Moroccan sales to Turkey. Nonetheless, it confirms that the revision of the free trade agreement has not halted the influx of Turkish goods into the Moroccan market.
Moreover, Turkish officials are now looking to expand their reach, aiming to transform certain African nations into production and distribution bases, leveraging air links, maritime routes, and the African Continental Free Trade Area. For Morocco, the challenge will be to evolve beyond being merely a consumer market and to secure more industrial investments, local production, and genuine access to the Turkish market.
As reported by bladi.net.
