The volume of trade between Russia and Morocco in 2021 increased by 42% to $1.6 billion, Russian trade representative to Morocco Artem Tsinamdzgvrishvili told TASS on Wednesday.
"At the end of 2021, trade between Russia and Morocco increased by 42% to $1.6 billion. The Kingdom of Morocco remains the most important trade partner of Russia in Africa," he said.
"Russian exports to Morocco show a strong positive trend. In 2021, it grew by 60% - the best figure among all countries of the continent," the interlocutor continued. - "Imports from Morocco also came out in the positive, at the end of the year it grew by 11%. And the surplus of bilateral trade amounted to $778.4 million".
"It is encouraging that in addition to the projected growth in the value share of commodities, primarily chemicals, petrochemicals and metals, an important share of Russian exports was taken by high-tech products. Deliveries of commercial vehicles from Russia to Morocco increased 6-fold, foodstuffs, as well as pulp and paper products - 3-fold. In 2021, Russian beef and honey were supplied to Morocco for the first time," Tsinamdzgvrishvili said.
"In addition, supplies of sheet glass have begun. There is now a high demand for sheet glass in Morocco after low supplies in the pandemic years 2020 and 2021, as well as lack of necessary volumes in warehouses and problems with organizing logistics from China. Annual glass imports into the kingdom are around $250 million," he said.
New goods from Russia
"Russian exports in 2021 included a number of goods not previously supplied to the Moroccan market. These are petroleum gases and gaseous hydrocarbons, internal combustion engines, cosmetics and toiletries, glass in sheets, equipment for preparing and cooking tobacco, electromechanical household machines, frozen cattle meat and honey," continued the interlocutor.
"In general, I will note a significant increase in joint Russian-Moroccan projects being implemented. In 2022 we expect an increase in the number of Russian small and medium-sized companies in the Moroccan market. I believe that the business mission of the "Russian Export Center" (REC), planned for this year, can be an effective tool", summed up the Russian trade representative.
GSV "Russia - Islamic world"
Based on materials from TASS