In September 2026, Morocco received three rare shipments of oil products from countries that are not typically on its supplier list, amidst the backdrop of global fuel market disruptions stemming from the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz. Notably, shipments from Venezuela and Bulgaria have re-emerged after years of absence, while Vietnam made its debut as a supplier, according to data from the Energy Research Unit based in Washington.
Collectively, the three shipments amounted to approximately 207,000 barrels during September, representing 2.8% of Morocco's total maritime imports of oil products, which stood at 7.5 million barrels. Since the closure of the Samir refinery, the only oil refinery in the country, in 2015, Morocco has increasingly relied on imported petroleum products.
Last month saw Bulgaria return to Morocco's oil supplier map, delivering a shipment of 96,000 barrels, the first since March 2022, as per the Energy Research Unit's data available since January 2017. Bulgarian supplies had sporadically appeared between December 2018 and March 2022 before vanishing for over four years.
Venezuelan shipments also resurfaced in Morocco's imports after a seven-year hiatus, marking the third occurrence since two shipments were received in May 2017 and September 2019, with the latest shipment comprising around 84,000 barrels. This resurgence can be attributed to eased U.S. sanctions, which have enabled Venezuela to re-establish its presence in new markets after years of absence.
Additionally, Vietnam's appearance in Morocco's oil imports records for the first time is noteworthy, with a shipment of 27,000 barrels received last September. These developments highlight the evolving dynamics in Morocco's oil import landscape.
Leading Oil Suppliers to Morocco
The United States topped the list of oil suppliers to Morocco during the first nine months of 2026, followed by Russia, Spain, Turkey, and the Netherlands. The breakdown is as follows: the United States supplied 61,000 barrels per day, Russia contributed 50,000 barrels per day, Spain provided 35,000 barrels per day, Turkey added 22,000 barrels per day, and the Netherlands delivered 20,000 barrels per day. Together, these five nations accounted for nearly 70% of Morocco's total maritime oil imports during this period.
During this timeframe, Morocco's average maritime oil imports reached 271,000 barrels per day, reflecting a 9% year-on-year increase compared to 249,000 barrels during the same period in 2025. The first quarter recorded the highest average quarterly imports, with figures showing 284,000 barrels per day in the first quarter, 252,000 in the second quarter, and 278,000 in the third quarter. Monthly, March saw the peak of oil imports at 349,000 barrels per day, contrasting with the lowest level of 204,000 barrels in January. August also registered a significant import level at 309,000 barrels per day, although September experienced a decline to 253,000 barrels, marking an 18% month-on-month decrease.
Future of the Samir Refinery in Morocco
The future of Morocco's Samir refinery has come back into focus following a decision by the House of Councillors on June 16 to reject proposals for nationalizing the refinery's assets and regulating fuel prices, despite approval from the parliamentary finance committee. This decision reignites discussions surrounding the implications of the refinery's closure since August 2015 due to financial crises, which has resulted in complete reliance on imported oil products. A research paper from the consulting firm Vifay Capital estimates the cost of the refinery's closure at approximately 197 billion Moroccan dirhams (20.30 billion USD) over a decade, as reported by the Energy Research Unit. This figure includes 114 billion dirhams in energy-related costs, 29 billion dirhams in government spending on subsidies and compensations, and 54 billion dirhams in lost industrial value. The importance of this issue is further magnified by supply chain disruptions arising from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, while government spending on subsidies reached 16.5 billion dirhams in 2025, with projections estimating a decrease to 13.8 billion dirhams in the 2026 budget, of which around 12 to 13 billion dirhams is allocated annually for butane gas subsidies.
As reported by attaqa.net.
