Economic ties between Turkey and Morocco are expanding at an unprecedented pace. Over the past two years, trade flows have accelerated sharply, pushing total bilateral exchanges beyond the $5 billion threshold and positioning Turkey among Morocco’s most dynamic non-European trade partners.
Recent figures released by Turkish trade authorities show that overall commercial exchanges approached $5 billion in 2024, with Turkish exports representing the bulk of that volume. Data from Turkey’s exporters’ associations indicate that shipments to Morocco alone exceeded $3.9 billion in 2025. The upward trajectory continued into 2026, with January export figures rising nearly 19 percent year over year to more than $300 million.
Drivers of Growth
The expansion reflects sustained Moroccan demand for Turkish manufactured goods and industrial inputs. Turkish automotive components, construction materials, textiles, household goods, and energy-related equipment have gained a solid foothold in Moroccan markets. Turkish companies have also increased their visibility in infrastructure and large-scale contracting across the country.
The growth is the result of the implementation of a free trade agreement signed in 2004 and implemented in 2006, which progressively reduced tariffs on a wide range of goods. Over time, Turkish firms leveraged competitive pricing and flexible supply chains to increase market share in Morocco, particularly in consumer-facing sectors.
Persistent Trade Gap
Despite rising volumes, the structure of trade remains uneven. Moroccan exports to Turkey, including phosphates, fertilizers, certain agricultural goods, and limited manufactured products, have not expanded at the same rate. As a result, Morocco runs a widening trade deficit with Turkey.
This imbalance has periodically generated political and economic debate within Morocco. In recent years, Rabat renegotiated certain provisions of the trade agreement to introduce safeguard mechanisms aimed at protecting domestic producers, particularly in textiles and light manufacturing. However, the latest trade data suggests that Turkish exports continue to outpace Moroccan shipments in value terms.
Moroccan policymakers increasingly view foreign direct investment as a tool to mitigate the structural gap. By encouraging Turkish firms to manufacture within Morocco rather than relying solely on exports, Rabat hopes to generate employment, build local supply chains, and expand re-export capacity.
Morocco presents itself as a stable and strategically located production platform with direct access to European and African markets. The Tangier Med port complex has become one of the largest logistics hubs in the Mediterranean, reinforcing Morocco’s integration into global supply chains.
For Turkish companies, Morocco offers tariff-free access to multiple markets through its network of trade agreements, including preferential arrangements with the European Union and the United States. That positioning enhances Morocco’s appeal as a regional manufacturing base rather than merely a consumer market.
Infrastructure and the 2030 World Cup
A significant upcoming catalyst is Morocco’s role as co-host of the 2030 FIFA World Cup alongside Spain and Portugal. The tournament is expected to generate sustained infrastructure investment in transportation, stadium construction, urban development, and hospitality.
Turkish firms, which have established global reputations in construction and engineering projects across Africa, Central Asia, and the Middle East, are well positioned to compete for contracts tied to the event. Moroccan officials view the World Cup cycle as an opportunity to attract industrial partnerships and capital inflows rather than simply increase imports.
The deepening commercial relationship between Ankara and Rabat reflects broader diversification in Morocco’s external economic ties. While the European Union remains Morocco’s largest trade partner, Turkey has emerged as a significant secondary actor.
The central policy challenge for Rabat is to convert trade growth into balanced economic integration. Without structural adjustments, rising volumes risk reinforcing a persistent deficit. With targeted investment, joint ventures, and sectoral collaboration, the relationship could evolve toward greater reciprocity.
Crossing the $5 billion threshold marks a milestone in bilateral commerce. The next phase will determine whether the partnership matures into deeper industrial alignment or remains defined primarily by export asymmetry.
