Casablanca – Morocco’s customs revenues reached about $7.19 billion by the end of August 2026, marking a 7.1% increase from the same period a year earlier and reflecting continued growth in tax receipts linked to imports and foreign trade.

The latest figures show that customs-related taxation remains an important source of public revenue, with growth recorded across its three main components: customs duties, value-added tax (VAT) collected on imports, and the domestic consumption tax applied to energy products.

The increase comes against a backdrop of stronger import activity during 2026. Data for the first seven months of the year showed that Morocco’s merchandise imports rose by 15.9% year on year to approximately $56.09 billion, while exports increased by 8.4% to about $30.86 billion. The resulting trade deficit widened by 26.5% to roughly $25.23 billion, while the import coverage ratio declined by 3.8 percentage points. These developments provide broader context for the rise in taxes collected on imported goods.

Import VAT remains the largest contributor

VAT collected on imports accounted for the largest share of customs revenue during the first eight months of 2026. Collections reached approximately $4.47 billion, representing a 6.9% increase compared with the same period in 2025.

The size of this component reflects the role played by imported goods in Morocco’s tax system. VAT is collected on a broad range of merchandise entering the domestic market, meaning that changes in import values can have a direct effect on government receipts.

The increase in import VAT revenue occurred while the value of Morocco’s imports was expanding at a faster pace than exports. During the first seven months of 2026, imports increased by approximately $7.72 billion compared with the same period of 2025, according to official foreign trade statistics. Exports rose by around $2.32 billion over the same period.

Customs duties record stronger growth

Customs duties generated approximately $1.21 billion by the end of August, up 8.8% from a year earlier.

In percentage terms, customs duties recorded the strongest increase among the three principal components of customs taxation. Their contribution, however, remained significantly smaller than that of import VAT.

The rise in customs duties forms part of a broader increase in ordinary government revenues recorded during the year. The General Treasury of the Kingdom reported that ordinary revenues increased by 5.5% by the end of August, supported by higher direct taxes, customs duties, indirect taxes, and registration and stamp duties.

Energy taxes provide another major source

The domestic consumption tax applied to energy products generated approximately $1.50 billion during the first eight months of 2026. Revenue from this category increased by 6.6% compared with the same period of the previous year.

Energy taxation therefore represented another substantial component of customs-related receipts. Its performance is linked to the taxation of energy products entering the Moroccan market and contributes to the overall level of indirect tax collections.

Taken together, import VAT, customs duties and energy-related domestic consumption taxes produced the bulk of the $7.19 billion in net customs revenues recorded through August.

Gross collections exceed $8.5 billion

The General Treasury also reported gross customs tax receipts of approximately $8.53 billion before refunds, tax reductions and reimbursements were taken into account. Gross collections increased by 7% compared with the first eight months of 2025.

The difference between gross and net collections is therefore significant. After accounting for refunds, reductions and other tax adjustments, net customs revenues stood at about $7.19 billion.

The distinction is important when assessing the performance of customs taxation because gross receipts represent the amount collected before fiscal adjustments, while the net figure reflects the amount retained after those operations.

Foreign trade and public revenues

The customs figures are closely connected to Morocco’s external trade because a substantial portion of customs taxation is generated when imported goods enter the domestic market.

The latest foreign trade data available through July show that imports reached approximately $56.09 billion, compared with about $48.41 billion during the same period of 2025. Exports reached around $30.86 billion, compared with approximately $28.47 billion a year earlier.

The faster increase in imports contributed to the widening merchandise trade deficit. At the same time, the higher value of goods entering Morocco provided a broader tax base for import-related VAT and, depending on the products concerned, customs duties and energy-related taxes.

The structure of customs revenue also means that changes in international prices, domestic demand, exchange rates and the composition of imports can influence the amount collected. A rise in the value of imports does not necessarily translate into an equivalent increase in customs revenue because different categories of goods can face different tax treatments.

A continuing fiscal contribution

The first eight months of 2026 therefore show increases across the main categories of Morocco’s customs taxation. Import VAT generated about $4.47 billion, customs duties contributed approximately $1.21 billion, and the domestic consumption tax on energy products brought in around $1.50 billion.

Together, these components helped lift net customs revenues by 7.1% year on year to approximately $7.19 billion. Gross customs tax receipts reached about $8.53 billion before refunds, reductions and reimbursements.

The figures come as Morocco continues to record significant growth in merchandise imports. With imports rising by 15.9% through July, compared with an 8.4% increase in exports, foreign trade has remained an important factor in the evolution of tax receipts during 2026.

The customs revenue figures also form part of a broader increase in Morocco’s ordinary government revenues. The Treasury’s August data show that higher direct taxes, customs duties, indirect taxes and registration-related taxes all contributed to the increase in ordinary receipts.

For the remainder of the year, the evolution of customs revenues will continue to depend partly on the pace and composition of imports, particularly the value of taxable consumer goods, equipment, industrial inputs and energy products. The latest data nevertheless show that customs taxation has maintained positive year-on-year growth through the first eight months of 2026 and continues to provide a substantial stream of revenue for Morocco’s public finances.