Wood in the rough market in Morocco

Earlier Report Observations

At the start of the period, the Moroccan wood in the rough market was marked by heavy reliance on imports and the rollout of a national program to improve the energy efficiency of wood-fired stoves, aiming to cut fuelwood consumption and preserve forest resources. Market volume stood at 4 547 thousand tonnes in 2018, edging down to 4 535 thousand tonnes in 2019 as rising international timber prices—driven by strong global demand—began to affect import volumes.

The COVID-19 pandemic directly hit the market in 2020, disrupting international supply chains and pushing import prices higher, which contributed to a drop in market volume to 4 379 thousand tonnes and production to 4 345 thousand tonnes. Recovery followed in 2021–2022, with market volume reaching 4 561 thousand tonnes and production climbing to 4 538 thousand tonnes by 2022. This rebound was supported by importers’ use of long-term contracts and bulk shipments to buffer price volatility, alongside strengthened policies promoting sustainable forest management and local processing.

By 2023, the market stabilized with a volume of 4 552 thousand tonnes and production of 4 535 thousand tonnes, while imports continued to shrink sharply, falling to 8 thousand tonnes in 2024, reflecting ongoing pressure from high international timber costs and supply-chain adjustments.

Production wood in the rough in Morocco

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of wood in the rough, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood in the rough, 2017-2020

Morocco's production of wood in the rough has declined for the third year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 4,345 thousand tonnes, marking a 2.9% decrease compared to 2019. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, production fell by 3.7%, with an average annual decline of 1.3%.

Annual dynamics of production in Morocco in kind, 2017-2020, K t

Exports wood in the rough from Morocco

Exports in kind, t

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2020 and peaked in 2017, with a 9.1-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Morocco exported 38 tonnes of wood in the rough, representing a sharp contraction of 78.9% from 2019. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 80.7%, while the largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 170.7%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Morocco in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Mauritania was the leading destination for Morocco's exports of wood in the rough in kind, accounting for 80.7% of total flows, with the remainder distributed among other partners.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Morocco in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Exports hit their lowest point in 2020 and peaked in 2017, showing an 8.1-fold swing. In 2020, Morocco's wood in the rough exports amounted to 15 thousand US dollars, indicating an abrupt drop of 87.5% compared to 2019. The largest increase was recorded in 2019 at 114.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Morocco in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the country structure of exports in value terms was heavily concentrated on Mauritania, which held an 88.3% share of total flows, with other partners making up the remaining volume.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Morocco in value, 2017-2020

Imports wood in the rough to Morocco

Imports in kind, t

In 2020, Morocco's import volume of wood in the rough was recorded at 34,752 tonnes, equivalent to a steep decrease of 44.1% compared to 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports fell by 46.4%, equating to an annualized decline of 18.8%. The largest increase occurred in 2019 at 28.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Morocco in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, three principal markets—France, Belgium, and Poland—together accounted for 83.4% of total imports in kind of wood in the rough to Morocco.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Morocco in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

Morocco imported 7,674 thousand US dollars of wood in the rough in 2020, which is 31.7% lower year-over-year. Over the period from 2017 to 2020, imports decreased by 29.3%, with an average annual decline of 10.9%. The maximum value was recorded in 2019 at 11,236 thousand US dollars, and the largest increase also occurred in 2019 at 27.2%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Morocco in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, France (35.4% of imports in value terms), Belgium (26.2% of imports in value terms), and Poland (15.9% of imports in value terms) formed the main group of destinations for imports in value terms of wood in the rough to Morocco, with a combined share of 77.4% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Morocco in value, 2017-2020