Morocco's trade deficit widens 21pc by end-July

RABAT: Morocco's trade deficit jumped 21 percent in the January-July period from a year ago to a record 106.4 billion dirhams ($13.3 billion) due mainly to higher spending on energy imports, according to official data on Wednesday.

Tourism receipts over the same period rose 8.5 percent to 33 billion dirhams and migrant remittances climbed 8.2 percent, also to 33 billion dirhams, data from the Office des Changes foreign exchange regulatory authority showed.

Copyright Reuters, 2011