Morocco’s textile and leather exports declined during the first half of 2026, contrasting sharply with the strong performance recorded by several of the country’s other major export industries.
Figures published by Morocco’s Foreign Exchange Office show that textile and leather exports fell by 6.5% year on year, representing a decline of 1.461 billion Moroccan dirhams. The sector’s total exports consequently dropped to 21.069 billion dirhams.
The contraction came despite a 9.7% increase in Morocco’s overall exports during the same period, highlighting the widening performance gap between textiles and the country’s faster-growing industrial sectors.
Garments, Knitwear and Footwear All Record Declines
The downturn extended across all three principal segments covered by the textile and leather category.
Exports of ready-made garments, the industry’s largest export segment, declined by 5.7%. The decrease was equivalent to 855 million dirhams compared with the first half of 2025.
Knitwear exports recorded the sharpest percentage decline, falling by 9.7% and losing approximately 415 million dirhams in export value.
Footwear exports also weakened, although at a slower rate. Shipments declined by 2.4%, corresponding to a reduction of around 36 million dirhams.
The fact that all major subsectors moved downwards indicates that the decline was not limited to one product category. It instead points to broader pressure on Morocco’s textile and clothing exports during the opening six months of the year.
Export figures, however, do not provide a complete assessment of the domestic industry. They measure the value of goods shipped abroad and do not directly show changes in factory production, employment, capacity utilisation or investment.
They nevertheless offer an important indication of Morocco’s competitive position in international textile and apparel markets.
Read More: Morocco’s Apparel Industry Faces a New Competitiveness Test as Zara Moves Upmarket
Automotive and Aerospace Exports Move Higher
The textile industry’s weaker performance was particularly visible when compared with the growth of Morocco’s automotive and aerospace sectors.
Automotive exports exceeded 93.7 billion dirhams during the first half of 2026, increasing by 17.4% year on year. Aerospace exports rose by 19.3% over the same period.
These results demonstrate how Morocco’s export structure is continuing to evolve. Automotive manufacturing has become the country’s leading export industry, supported by expanding production capacity and the presence of major international manufacturers and suppliers.
Textiles and clothing remain economically important, particularly because of their role in industrial employment and their close integration with European supply chains. However, their relative contribution to export growth is coming under increasing pressure.
European Demand Remains Critical
Morocco’s textile and garment industry has built its export model largely around proximity to European markets.
Short transport distances and established trade relationships allow Moroccan manufacturers to serve European brands with faster delivery times than many Asian production centres. This nearshoring position remains one of the industry’s principal competitive advantages.
At the same time, dependence on European demand exposes Moroccan factories to changes in consumer spending, retail inventories and sourcing decisions across the continent.
Manufacturers must also contend with higher energy, labour and raw-material costs, while international buyers continue to demand competitive prices, smaller orders, shorter production cycles and stricter environmental performance.
The combination of these pressures makes it increasingly difficult for manufacturers to compete primarily through conventional, lower-margin garment production.
Read More: Morocco’s Textile & Apparel Industry: Nearshoring 2.0 & Outlook 2030
Can Higher-Value Textiles Reverse the Decline?
Morocco’s opportunity may lie in moving further towards higher-value manufacturing rather than attempting to compete with the lowest-cost global suppliers.
Fashion products requiring rapid development and short lead times remain a natural area of opportunity. Morocco can also expand its position in premium finished garments, sustainable apparel and smaller, more flexible production runs for European brands.
Technical and smart textiles could provide another route for diversification. These segments include materials developed for automotive, aerospace, medical, construction, protective clothing and other specialised applications.
Morocco’s expanding automotive and aerospace industries could potentially create domestic demand for some technical textile products. However, entering these markets requires investment in technology, testing, certification, product development and specialised workforce skills.
Sustainability will also become increasingly important as European regulations place greater emphasis on product traceability, environmental information, durability and circularity.
Read More: Morocco Textile Nearshoring: 7 Strategic Priorities for EU Market Competitiveness to 2030
For Moroccan producers, compliance should therefore be treated not simply as an additional cost but as an opportunity to strengthen their position as nearby, responsive and increasingly sustainable suppliers to the European market.
The 6.5% export decline does not by itself establish a long-term contraction in Morocco’s textile industry. It does, however, underline the urgency of accelerating the sector’s transition towards more differentiated products, greater production flexibility and higher-value manufacturing.
