RABAT, June 19 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's trade deficit hiked 10.7 percent to 8.53 billion U.S. dollars in the first five months of 2018 from the prior year, data released by the foreign exchange regulator suggests Tuesday.
The rise in the deficit was driven by an 9.7-percent increase in imports to 20.2 billion dollars, particularly due to a 25.9-percent rise in raw materials imports, a 13.4-percent increase in equipment imports, and a 12.5-percent hike in energy bill.
The import increase outstripped a 8.9-percent rise in exports, which reached 10.71 billion dollars.
The increase in exports was pushed by a rise of 19 percent in aeronautics products, 18 percent in car industry and 9.8 percent in phosphate exports.
