With rising exports and a key role as a buyer of European textiles, Morocco is solidifying its importance in Europe’s textile and clothing sector. Its partnership with the EU is strengthening, particularly through a memorandum of understanding aimed at harmonizing industrial practices and fostering trade.
Morocco is confirming its status as a vital player in Europe’s textile and clothing industry. By the end of November 2024, the Kingdom maintained its position as the 8th largest supplier of clothing to the European Union, with exports reaching €2.52 billion, up 7% from the previous year. This growth stands in contrast to declines seen by competing Mediterranean countries, such as Turkey and Tunisia, whose exports to the EU fell by 7% and 8%, respectively.
Beyond its role as an exporter, Morocco also stands out for its dynamic imports of European textiles. With €1.9 billion in purchases over the first eleven months of 2024, it ranks as the 4th largest buyer of EU textiles. This dual position highlights the depth of trade relations between the two parties and underscores the complementarity between the Moroccan and European textile industries.
Strengthened Cooperation for a Sustainable Industry
The relationship between Morocco and the EU in the textile and clothing sector extends beyond trade flows. In 2024, a significant milestone was reached with the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Moroccan Association of Textile and Clothing Industries (Amith) and Euratex, the European Textile and Clothing Confederation. This agreement aims to enhance bilateral cooperation and align Moroccan industrial practices with European standards on sustainability and circular economy principles.
The partnership addresses multiple priorities, including facilitating the exchange of information on new industrial technologies, streamlining customs and regulatory procedures, and improving the business and investment environment. This dynamic aligns with a shared ambition: to build a more resilient and competitive Euro-Mediterranean textile industry on the global stage.
In this context, the transition to sustainable practices is a central focus. Efforts are concentrated on reducing the sector’s environmental footprint, with initiatives aimed at optimizing resource use and promoting circular economy principles. Morocco, which has already begun reforms to integrate these principles, benefits from a structured framework of collaboration with its European partners.
Thanks to this strengthened relationship with the EU, Morocco is enhancing its competitiveness and positioning itself as a key partner in developing an innovative and sustainable textile industry. The evolution of trade and investment between the two parties opens up new opportunities for sector stakeholders, both in the European market and other international markets.
