Ten years after the signing of the strategic partnership between Morocco and China, this perception is clearly reflected in the figures. Trade has grown significantly, investment is increasingly concentrated in the industries of the future, and several Chinese companies have chosen Morocco as the location for their first manufacturing base on the African continent.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the removal of all tariffs on imports from 53 African countries, effective from 1 May 2026.

In 2024, bilateral trade reached $9.4bn, representing year-on-year growth of 20.5%. China has become Morocco’s third-largest trading partner and its leading supplier in Asia. Since 2015, the volume of trade has almost tripled, driven by industrial equipment, electronic components, vehicles and machinery.

This upward trend has continued since King Mohammed VI visited Beijing in 2016, during which no fewer than 32 cooperation agreements were signed.

Electric batteries, tyres and industrial manufacturing

These figures, however, conceal a persistent trade imbalance. Chinese exports continue to dominate bilateral trade, while Moroccan exports remain largely concentrated in phosphates, seafood and selected agricultural products.

Beijing’s decision to remove tariffs on almost all Moroccan goods creates new opportunities for Moroccan manufacturers. The challenge now is to ensure that improved access to the Chinese market translates into sustained growth in Moroccan exports.

The nature of Chinese investment in Morocco has also evolved considerably. Once focused primarily on infrastructure, investment is now directed towards sectors at the heart of global industrial competition, including electric vehicle batteries, automotive manufacturing, renewable energy, tyre production and industrial equipment.

At Jorf Lasfar, Core Battery Components (COBCO) is developing a platform to manufacture lithium-ion battery components through a partnership between the Chinese company CNGR Advanced Material and Al Mada.

China’s economic influence in Morocco is measured not simply by the number of projects undertaken, but by their strategic importance…

In Kénitra, Gotion High-Tech is constructing Africa’s first electric battery gigafactory. At Tangier Tech, several Chinese automotive manufacturers are helping to strengthen an industrial ecosystem serving major international vehicle producers.

According to Morocco’s ministry of industry and trade, more than 80 Chinese investment projects are currently under consideration across the Kingdom, while the new factories at Tangier Tech have already created nearly 3,800 industrial jobs.

China’s industrial presence in Morocco predates the recent wave of investment in batteries and the automotive sector. In 2002, construction machinery manufacturer Sany selected Morocco as its first overseas market. Since then, the company has strengthened its position by contributing to the development of the future battery platform at Jorf Lasfar and expanding its energy solutions for the mining industry.

Renewable energy and automotive supply chains

A similar trend is evident in the renewable energy sector. In Nador, Ailong Technology established its first manufacturing facility outside China to produce wind turbine blades. In the tyre industry, Sentury Tire manufactures in Tangier for European, African and American markets, while Goldensun Tire plans to build a second production facility near the future port of Nador West Med.

Several original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), including Lingyun Industrial and Jiangsu Yunyi Electric, also produce automotive components in Morocco for Tesla, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Renault and Stellantis.

A strategic platform for Europe and Africa

These investments form part of a strategy that extends well beyond the Moroccan domestic market. By establishing production facilities in the Kingdom, Chinese companies gain manufacturing sites in proximity to Europe while also benefiting from Morocco’s preferential access to African markets and its extensive network of free trade agreements. Tangier Med, Africa’s largest container port, together with integrated industrial zones and modern logistics infrastructure, further enhances the country’s appeal.

China’s economic influence in Morocco is measured not simply by the number of projects undertaken, but by their strategic importance — positioning Morocco as a manufacturing hub serving both Europe and Africa.

For Rabat, the priority will be to increase the proportion of local value added within these investments, secure greater technology transfer and strengthen export capacity, ensuring that its economic relationship with its Asian partner becomes progressively more balanced.