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Morocco's Manufacturing Output Plunges 4.5% in Q2 2026 as Key Sectors Contract Sharply
According to the Haut-Commissariat au Plan (HCP), Morocco's manufacturing production index, excluding petroleum refining, fell by 4.5% in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period last year. The decline was driven by significant contractions across several industries, most notably the chemical sector (-29.5%) and the production of computer, electronic, and optical products (-19.5%). However, some sectors such as food processing and metallurgy showed resilience, posting gains of 5.7% and 11.6%, respectively.
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Morocco's Manufacturing Sector Faces Setback in Q2 2026
The Moroccan manufacturing industry, excluding petroleum refining activities, recorded a notable decline of 4.5% in production during the second quarter of 2026, compared to the same quarter in 2025. This data was released by the Haut-Commissariat au Plan (HCP) in its latest report on the Industrial, Energy, and Mining Production Index (IPIEM).
Key Sectors Driving the Decline
The overall contraction was primarily fueled by steep drops across multiple industrial branches. The chemical industry experienced the sharpest decline at -29.5%, followed by the manufacture of computer, electronic, and optical products at -19.5%. The printing and reproduction of recorded media sector fell by -12.3%, while the clothing industry slipped by -10% and the furniture manufacturing sector declined by -5%.
Bright Spots: Resilient Industrial Branches
Despite the widespread downturn, several sectors demonstrated solid growth:
- Food industry surged by 5.7%
- Manufacture of other non-metallic mineral products rose by 5.9%
- Fabrication of metal products (excluding machinery and equipment) jumped by 14.1%
- Automotive industry grew by 6%
- Metallurgy advanced by 11.6%
Extractive Industries and Energy Production
The extractive industries sector faced a significant contraction of -28.8%, driven by a -29.6% drop in miscellaneous extractive products, though this was partially offset by a slight +0.6% increase in metallic ores. Meanwhile, electric energy production posted a modest gain of +1.9%.
The HCP report paints a mixed picture for Morocco's industrial landscape in Q2 2026, with weakness concentrated in high-value-added sectors like chemicals and electronics, while more traditional industries such as food and metals continue to expand.