Moroccan exports see double-digit rise in first 10 months

RABAT, Nov. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan exports hit nearly 24 billion U.S. dollars in the first 10 months, up 10.3 percent year on year, foreign exchange regulator said Sunday.

The increase in exports was driven by a hike of 14.6 percent in phosphate, 14 percent in aeronautics and 11 percent in car industry products.

However, the trade deficit rose 7.8 percent to 17.6 billion dollars as exports remained far fewer than imports in value.

Between January and October, imports hiked 9.2 percent to more than 41.5 billion dollars, with an increase in raw materials of 20.5 percent, energy bill of 19.7 percent, and equipment of 8.8 percent.