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RABAT, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's trade deficit increased 7.8 percent to 10 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of 2018 compared with the same period of last year, according to the data released by the foreign exchange regulator on Tuesday.
The rise in the deficit was driven by a 9.9-percent increase in imports to 24 billion dollars, particularly due to a hike in energy bill by 15.7 percent, equipment by 10.8 percent and food products by 9.5 percent.
Morocco's exports increased by 11.4 percent to 14 billion dollars, but remained far less than imports.
The increase in exports was pushed by a rise of 23.9 percent in aeronautics products, 19.1 percent in car industry and 16.5 percent in phosphate exports. Enditem
