Casablanca – Morocco recorded a sharp rise in diesel imports in 2025, positioning the Kingdom among the world’s top ten diesel-importing countries and underscoring its growing reliance on international energy markets to meet domestic demand. A series of recent reports from international energy platforms and Moroccan institutions point to a sustained increase in fuel consumption, driven mainly by transport, logistics, and broader economic activity.

Morocco ranks among global leaders in diesel imports

According to data from energy research platforms, Morocco ranked 10th worldwide in 2025 in terms of seaborne diesel imports, with average volumes reaching about 99,000 barrels per day, up from 79,000 barrels per day in 2024. This increase of 20,000 barrels per day reflects stronger internal demand and the continued absence of domestic refining capacity, which has made imports the primary source of fuel supply.

Globally, diesel imports were highly concentrated, with just ten countries accounting for approximately 45% of total worldwide imports in 2025. Combined seaborne diesel shipments by these countries reached around 2.025 million barrels per day, highlighting the strategic importance of diesel in global energy and transport systems.

Africa featured prominently in this ranking, with three countries — Egypt, South Africa, and Morocco — among the top ten. Egypt imported about 126,000 barrels per day, while South Africa recorded approximately 119,000 barrels per day. Morocco, despite ranking last among the top ten, showed one of the most notable growth rates in year-on-year imports.

Global trends: imports down, demand up

At the global level, seaborne diesel imports declined slightly in 2025 after two consecutive years of growth. Total imports fell from 4.831 million barrels per day in 2024 to about 4.551 million barrels per day in 2025, a year-on-year decrease of 5.8%, or roughly 280,000 barrels per day.

Despite this reduction in trade volumes, global demand for diesel — including red diesel — increased by approximately 241,000 barrels per day, reaching 28.72 million barrels per day. Diesel remained the most widely used fuel worldwide in absolute terms, confirming its central role in freight transport, agriculture, industry, and electricity generation in many regions.

Australia remained the world’s largest diesel importer in 2025, averaging 440,000 barrels per day, followed by Brazil at 276,000 barrels per day and Turkey at 271,000 barrels per day. The United Kingdom and France completed the top five, while Mexico, Egypt, Chile, South Africa, and Morocco rounded out the top ten.

Surge in Russian diesel imports

One of the most striking developments for Morocco in 2025 was the sharp increase in imports of Russian diesel, particularly toward the end of the year. According to shipping and financial data platforms, Morocco received approximately 321,000 tons of Russian diesel in December 2025 alone, compared with just 70,000 tons in November — an increase of more than four times in a single month.

This surge occurred alongside a broader rise in Russia’s seaborne exports of diesel and gasoil, which increased by nearly 40% in December compared with November, reaching around 3.41 million tons. The increase was attributed to higher fuel production in Russia and a seasonal decline in domestic demand.

Turkey remained the largest buyer of Russian diesel, importing about 1.1 million tons in December, while Brazil’s imports rose sharply to around 600,000 tons. Morocco’s rapid increase placed it among the leading destinations for Russian diesel shipments, despite Western sanctions on Russia’s energy sector following the war in Ukraine.

Domestic fuel imports and market structure

At the national level, Moroccan authorities also reported a strong rise in overall fuel imports during 2025. According to the Competition Council, total imports of diesel and gasoline reached 1.91 million tons in the third quarter of 2025, with a combined value of $1.31 billion.

Compared with the same period in 2024, import volumes rose by 12.4%, while the total value declined slightly by 1.3%, reflecting both higher quantities and lower average international prices. Diesel dominated the import mix, accounting for 88% of total volume and 87% of total value.

Diesel imports alone reached 1.68 million tons in the third quarter of 2025, up from 1.50 million tons in 2024, an increase of 12%. However, the value of diesel imports declined from $1.164 billion to $1.146 billion, a drop of 1.5%. Gasoline imports also increased in volume by 16.2%, rising by 31,000 tons, although their value fell slightly by 0.6%.

The Moroccan fuel import market remains highly concentrated. Nine major distribution companies accounted for approximately 82% of total import volumes and values during the third quarter. Their combined imports reached 1.56 million tons, up from 1.43 million tons a year earlier. However, the value of these imports declined by 4.7%, from $1.123 billion to $1.070 billion.

Fiscal impact of fuel imports

Fuel imports continue to play a major role in public finances. In the third quarter of 2025, tax revenues from diesel and gasoline imports reached approximately $807 million, representing an increase of 8.6% compared with the same period in 2024.

The domestic consumption tax accounted for the largest share of these revenues, generating about $613 million, or 76% of the total. Value-added tax contributed around $194 million, representing nearly 24% of total tax revenues from fuel imports.

Diesel remained the main source of fiscal revenue, generating about $660 million, or 82% of total fuel import taxes, up from $614 million in the third quarter of 2024. Gasoline imports generated approximately $148 million, marking a year-on-year increase of nearly 15.2%.

Outlook and challenges

The data from 2025 highlight Morocco’s growing dependence on imported fuels, particularly diesel, at a time of shifting global energy dynamics. Rising domestic demand, combined with fluctuations in international prices and geopolitical uncertainties, continues to shape the country’s energy import strategy.

At the same time, the concentration of imports among a small number of suppliers and distributors, along with the increasing role of non-traditional suppliers such as Russia, raises strategic questions about supply security, price volatility, and long-term energy diversification.

As Morocco advances its renewable energy and energy transition strategies, diesel is expected to remain a central component of the national energy mix in the medium term, particularly for transport and industry. Managing the balance between import reliance, fiscal revenues, and energy security will remain a key policy challenge in the years ahead.