Casablanca – Turkish exports to Morocco continued to expand during the first seven months of 2026, placing the Kingdom among Turkey’s largest African markets despite measures introduced in recent years to protect domestic industries and reduce pressure on Moroccan producers. Turkish goods shipped to Morocco reached approximately $2.43 billion between January and July, an increase of 11.7% compared with the same period of 2025, according to data from the Turkish Exporters Assembly reported by Anadolu Agency.

The increase comes within a broader expansion of Turkey’s trade with Africa. Turkish exports to African countries reached about $13.3 billion during the first seven months of 2026, up 12.6% year on year. Exports in July alone reached approximately $2.3 billion, representing a 16.3% increase compared with July 2025. The figures indicate that African markets are becoming an increasingly important destination for Turkish manufacturers and exporters.

Morocco is one of the principal markets within this expansion. During the January-July period, Turkish exports to the Kingdom exceeded shipments to several other major African destinations. Egypt received slightly more than $2.3 billion of Turkish goods, while Libya accounted for about $1.59 billion and Algeria for $1.09 billion. Tunisia received more than $720 million, while South Africa and Nigeria imported approximately $479 million and $453.2 million, respectively.

The Moroccan figures also show a difference between the broader trend and the most recent monthly performance. Turkish exports to Morocco declined by 24.8% in July, reaching approximately $277.5 million. The monthly decline did not offset the growth recorded during the first seven months, leaving Turkish exports to Morocco well above their level a year earlier.

The composition of Turkish exports helps explain the depth of the commercial relationship. Turkish companies sell a wide range of products to African markets, including automobiles and automotive components, chemicals, textiles, machinery, electrical and electronic equipment, iron and steel, food products and construction materials. In Morocco, these categories form part of a diverse flow of manufactured and industrial goods entering the market.

Turkey’s growing presence is supported by an extensive transport and logistics network. Turkish Airlines operates services linking Turkey with more than 60 destinations in Africa, while maritime container connections have also expanded. Improved air and sea links have helped Turkish exporters reach African markets and maintain regular commercial connections with importers and distributors.

Commercial expansion is also linked to the activities of Turkish construction companies. Firms from Turkey have participated in projects involving roads, ports, airports, housing and other infrastructure across African countries. Their presence can generate additional demand for Turkish machinery, steel, construction materials and other industrial products, connecting investment activity with merchandise exports.

The African Continental Free Trade Area is also creating new possibilities for Turkish companies seeking to expand their operations. Turkey’s broader commercial strategy in Africa is increasingly focused on the possibility of establishing production and distribution facilities in strategically located markets rather than relying exclusively on exports from Turkey. Such an approach could allow companies to serve several African markets from regional bases.

This model could have particular relevance for Morocco, which is seeking to attract more industrial investment and strengthen its role as a production and export platform. Rather than remaining primarily a destination for imported Turkish goods, Morocco could seek to increase Turkish investment in local manufacturing, joint ventures and supply chains serving both the domestic market and other African destinations.

The expansion of Turkish imports has nevertheless renewed debate in Morocco over the bilateral trade balance. The free-trade agreement between Morocco and Turkey has been revised in the past after Moroccan industries raised concerns about growing imports and competitive pressures. The revised framework introduced additional protection for a range of products, including goods associated with textiles, clothing, leather, automobiles, wood, electrical products and metallurgy.

The measures were designed to give Moroccan manufacturers greater protection from imported products while addressing concerns over the widening trade gap. However, the latest export figures indicate that Turkish goods continue to increase their presence in the Moroccan market despite those changes.

Morocco’s textile and clothing sector has been particularly vocal about the issue. Industry representatives have argued that Turkish imports can create significant competitive pressure for local manufacturers and have called for stronger controls concerning the origin and quantities of imported goods, as well as measures to strengthen domestic production and improve competitiveness.

The continued rise in Turkish exports does not, by itself, establish the size of Morocco’s current trade deficit with Turkey. The $2.43 billion figure represents Turkish-reported exports to Morocco for the January-July period. A calculation of the bilateral trade balance would require comparable Moroccan data on exports to Turkey over the same period. Nevertheless, the export figure demonstrates the scale of Turkish commercial activity in the Moroccan market.

The figures also need to be considered within the wider development of Turkey’s African trade. Egypt recorded a 26.1% increase in Turkish exports during the first seven months, exceeding $2.3 billion. Nigeria registered a 52.1% increase to $453.2 million, while South African purchases rose 31.3% to $479 million. Turkish exports to Libya increased 2.3% to $1.59 billion, and shipments to Tunisia rose 9.9% to more than $720 million.

Turkey’s overall exports also continued to grow during the period. The country recorded approximately $161.6 billion in exports during the first seven months of 2026, while more than 1,100 companies reportedly entered export markets for the first time. The automotive and chemical industries remained among the important contributors to Turkish export earnings.

For Morocco, the development creates a policy challenge involving trade, industrial competitiveness and investment. Turkish products can provide Moroccan consumers and companies with additional sources of vehicles, machinery, industrial inputs, textiles, food products and construction materials. At the same time, sustained import growth can increase competitive pressure on domestic producers, particularly in industries where Moroccan companies are already operating with narrow margins.

The issue is therefore increasingly linked to the quality and structure of bilateral trade rather than simply the volume of imports. Greater Turkish investment in Morocco could potentially provide a different form of economic relationship by creating local production, employment and export capacity. Joint ventures could also allow Turkish companies to use Morocco as a base for supplying other African markets.

Morocco’s infrastructure and industrial development plans could create opportunities in this area. The country is investing in transport, logistics, energy, tourism and other sectors as it prepares for major international events and seeks to strengthen its position as an African investment hub. Turkish companies with experience in construction, engineering, manufacturing and logistics could participate in these projects while establishing a deeper local presence.

The challenge for Moroccan policymakers will be to balance openness to foreign products and investment with the need to maintain competitive domestic industries. For Turkish companies, the Moroccan market offers access to a large consumer base as well as an established industrial and logistics platform connected to Europe and Africa.

The latest trade figures suggest that the commercial relationship is continuing to expand despite earlier efforts to reduce imbalances. Whether this expansion leads to a more balanced partnership will depend on the evolution of Moroccan exports to Turkey, the scale of Turkish investment in Morocco and the ability of local industries to compete in an increasingly open market.

For now, the $2.43 billion in Turkish exports recorded in the first seven months of 2026 places Morocco firmly among Turkey’s leading African customers. The 11.7% annual increase, combined with the broader 12.6% rise in Turkish exports to Africa, indicates that commercial ties are continuing to deepen. The decline recorded in July may represent a temporary fluctuation, but the longer-term figures point to sustained Turkish commercial activity in Morocco and across the African continent.