Morocco's trade deficit grows by 6.5 percent

(MENAFN) Morocco's trade deficit increased 6.5 percent to USD8.72bn in H1 of this year, compared with the same period a year ago, due to higher imports.

Furthermore, equipment imports grew 15.4 percent to USD5.63bn, whereas auto imports were 43.3 percent higher at USD0.74bn.

Meanwhile, whole exports grew 1.6 percent from a year earlier to USD11.59bn, led by a 15 percent increase in auto exports, while phosphate sales dropped.

On the other hand, the N. African kingdom's energy import bill declined to 31.6 percent or USD2.45bn, compared with a year earlier.