Morocco's trade deficit widens 10.6 pct in Q1

RABAT, April 25 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's trade deficit hiked 10.6 percent to 5.2 billion U.S. dollars in the first quarter of 2018 compared with the same period last year, according to data released by the foreign exchange regulator on Wednesday.

The rise in the deficit was driven by an 8.2-percent increase in imports to 12.6 billion dollars, particularly due to a 12.4-percent increase in equipment imports, 14.3 percent rise in food imports, and 5.7-percent hike in energy bill.

The imports' increase outstripped a 6.6-percent rise in exports, which reached 7.4 billion dollars.

The increase in exports was pushed by a rise of 16.5 percent in car industry and 3 percent in agricultural products exports. Enditem