Weak Auto Industry Worldwide Causes Drop in Morocco’s Car Exports

People wait with their cars to get on a ferry to Morocco at the southern Spanish port of Algeciras (File photo: Reuters)
People wait with their cars to get on a ferry to Morocco at the southern Spanish port of Algeciras (File photo: Reuters)
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Weak Auto Industry Worldwide Causes Drop in Morocco’s Car Exports

People wait with their cars to get on a ferry to Morocco at the southern Spanish port of Algeciras (File photo: Reuters)
People wait with their cars to get on a ferry to Morocco at the southern Spanish port of Algeciras (File photo: Reuters)

Morocco's car exports fell 6.2 percent in the first five months of 2019 in response to a downturn in the global automotive industry.

This is the first time that Morocco’s auto industry hits reverse after witnessing a growth in the past few years and becoming the country’s top export sector.

Despite the decline, the auto industry remained at the forefront of Morocco's exports with $1.6 billion, representing about 12 percent of the total value of Morocco's exports during the first five months of this year.

Wires and electrical cables industry ranked second in Morocco's value-added exports, with a value of $1.5 billion, up 7.2 percent and accounting for 11.5 percent of the country's total exports. This industry developed greatly in connection with the needs of the automotive industry, including the manufacture of components that enter into cars assembly.

Agricultural fertilizer exports came third with $1.2 billion and a 1.5 percent growth, followed by clothing exports of $1.1 billion.

Phosphoric acid ranked fourth in Morocco's exports over the same period by $685 million, a strong growth of 35.5 percent in association with the country’s increase of phosphoric acid exports to Africa under the new industrial partnerships of the OCP Group (Office Chérifien des Phosphates).

Morocco's exports during the first five months of the year amounted to $13.2 billion, and saw an increase of 3.44 percent compared to the same period last year.

These exports accounted for 29.2 percent of finished products, 22.6 percent of food and beverages, 20.4 percent of semi-finished products, 19.7 percent of finished industrial equipment, 4.7 percent of ores, and 2 percent of plant and animal raw materials. 



Gold Jumps, on Track for Best Week in Over a Year on Safe-haven Demand

FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
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Gold Jumps, on Track for Best Week in Over a Year on Safe-haven Demand

FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: Gold bullions are displayed at GoldSilver Central's office in Singapore June 19, 2017. REUTERS/Edgar Su/File Photo

Gold prices rose over 1% to hit a two-week peak on Friday, heading for the best weekly performance in more than a year, buoyed by safe-haven demand as Russia-Ukraine tensions intensified.

Spot gold jumped 1.3% to $2,703.05 per ounce as of 1245 GMT, hitting its highest since Nov. 8. US gold futures gained 1.1% to $2,705.30.

Bullion rose despite the US dollar hitting a 13-month high, while bitcoin hit a record peak and neared the $100,000 level.

"With both gold and USD (US dollar) rising, it seems that safe-haven demand is lifting both assets," said UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo.

Ukraine's military said its drones struck four oil refineries, radar stations and other military installations in Russia, Reuters reported.

Gold has gained over 5% so far this week, its best weekly performance since October 2023. Prices have gained around $173 after slipping to a two-month low last week.

"We understand that the price setback has been used by 'Western world' investors under-allocated to gold to build exposure considering the geopolitical risks that are still around. So we continue to expect gold to rise further over the coming months," Staunovo said.

Bullion tends to shine during geopolitical tensions, economic risks, and a low interest rate environment. Markets are pricing in a 59.4% chance of a 25-basis-points cut at the Fed's December meeting, per the CME Fedwatch tool.

However, "if Fed skips or pauses its rate cut in December, that will be negative for gold prices and we could see some pullback," said Soni Kumari, a commodity strategist at ANZ.

The Chicago Federal Reserve president reiterated his support for further US interest rate cuts on Thursday.

On Friday, spot silver rose 1.8% to $31.34 per ounce, platinum eased 0.1% to $960.13 and palladium fell 0.6% to $1,023.55. All three metals were on track for a weekly rise.