Once a peripheral actor,the North African kingdom has positioned itself as a reliable manufacturing and logistics hub,attracting sustained foreign investment and forging deep ties with global aerospace giants.
Moroccan aerospace exports reached 26.4 billion dirhams ($3bn) in 2024,up 14.9% year-on-year,with assembly operations alone expanding by 23.6%.
The figures mark a continuation of the sector’s post-pandemic rebound,following a 53.3% surge in 2022,and underscore Morocco’s resilience amid ongoing turbulence in global aviation markets.
While the industry worldwide continues to grapple with the aftermath of a 60% collapse in passenger traffic in 2020,Morocco has bucked the trend. Its aerospace sector has not only recovered but moved up the value chain,shifting from low-cost subcontracting to high-value engineering,assembly,and maintenance services.
The sector’s growth has been underpinned by foreign capital,which accounts for over 96% of total investment. Morocco’s proximity to Europe has made it an attractive nearshoring destination for manufacturers seeking cost efficiency without compromising on quality or logistics.
Industrial zones such as Casablanca’s Aeropole and the MIDPARC platform near the capital have become magnets for investment. The country now hosts more than 140 aerospace firms,with a local integration rate exceeding 40%,reflecting the growing sophistication of domestic suppliers.
Morocco’s competitive edge also lies in its skilled workforce. The sector employs over 16,700 people,nearly 2% of the national industrial labour force,with a strong concentration in technical and engineering roles.
Institutions such as the Institut des Métiers de l’Aéronautique (IMA) and the Aerospace Moroccan Cluster (AMC) have played a central role in aligning training with international standards and fostering innovation through public-private partnerships.
The country’s industrial ascent has been bolstered by strategic partnerships with major aerospace manufacturers. Airbus,through its subsidiary Stelia Aerospace,supports over 10,000 jobs in Morocco. Boeing,in collaboration with the Moroccan government,is targeting the creation of 8,700 additional jobs and €1bn in economic impact by 2028. Spirit AeroSystems,meanwhile,produces components for the Airbus A220 in Morocco,a next-generation aircraft designed to cut CO₂ emissions by 25%.
These partnerships are not only enhancing Morocco’s trade balance but embedding the country deeper into global value chains,reinforcing its role as a strategic industrial partner on the southern flank of the Mediterranean.
United News - unews.co.za