In late 2024, 36% of Moroccan wholesalers reported increased sales, signaling growth in the wholesale trade sector, while 49% of non-financial services faced declines. Optimism remains for early 2025 with 37% of service sector and 28% of wholesalers expecting growth. Employment and investment patterns indicate stability, though some sectors anticipate challenges ahead.
In late 2024, Morocco’s wholesale trade sector showed positive growth with 36% of wholesalers reporting increased sales, based on a survey by the High Commission for Planning (HCP). However, the non-financial services sector faced challenges; 49% of its companies noted a drop in activity. Contrastingly, optimism is growing as 37% of service sector businesses and 28% of wholesalers predict growth in the first quarter of 2025.
In the last quarter of 2024, nearly half of non-financial services businesses reported declines, with 35% indicating growth. This downturn was influenced by decreased activity in telecommunications, air transport, and real estate. Conversely, sectors like hospitality and land transport saw improvements, highlighting a mixed performance across various industries.
The capacity utilization rate for businesses was recorded at 74%, with 79% of firms having normal order books. Employment figures remained stable for 59% of companies, but 22% noted job reductions. Investment priorities for 2024 centered around equipment replacement and business expansion, as per 76% of surveyed leaders.
Looking ahead to the first quarter of 2025, 37% of business leaders expect growth, while only 8% foresee a decline. Positive indications are noted for land transport, warehousing, and IT services, although postal services and engineering may show weaker performances. About 68% of businesses predict stable demand, with 27% expecting an uptick, indicating cautious optimism for the future.
Additionally, the wholesale trade sector outperformed expectations, with 36% of wholesalers seeing increased sales and 53% reporting stability in the market. The most robust growth areas were in industrial equipment, agricultural products, and specialized wholesale activities.
In terms of employment, 77% of wholesale businesses maintained stable levels, and 86% reported normal stock inventories. About 68% indicated stable sales prices, while 27% experienced price declines. For the first quarter of 2025, 64% of wholesalers expect sales to hold steady, while 28% predict further growth, particularly in household goods and food and beverages, despite anticipated declines in agricultural products.
Overall, Morocco’s wholesale trade sector demonstrated resilience with significant growth reported in late 2024, while the non-financial services faced challenges. Expectations for early 2025 are cautiously optimistic, particularly in transportation and IT services. Businesses in wholesale showed stable employment and inventory levels, hinting at a robust market despite some sectors projecting declines.
Original Source: www.moroccoworldnews.com
