After a year 2020 marked by an inflection (-25%), and a halt linked to the health and economic crisis of Covid-19, the turnover from the export of craft products has started to rise once more. increase in 2021, recording a value exceeding 893 million DH, i.e. a growth rate of 50% compared to the previous year.
Compared to the pre-pandemic period (2019), craft exports are showing strong growth, through a double-digit growth rate, or 13%, indicates the supervisory ministry.
Pottery and carpets still in the lead, promising development for brassware
During the year 2021, almost all the products show remarkable performance for export, even excellent for the majority of them, notes the ministry, which provides certain details.
Brassware products have experienced very strong demand abroad. The latter has been multiplied by 5 compared to the year 2020, ranking this family of products first in terms of evolution.
Very clear growth was also recorded for wrought iron, basketry, pottery and stone products, which saw their exports increase by 95%, 91% and 74% respectively.
The carpet has also experienced a real resurgence of growth, posting an increase of 67% year-on-year, following two consecutive years of decline. Footwear is following suit, with a growth rate of 62%, followed by wooden items, up 51% compared to 2020.
Other product families recorded more modest growth, such as leather goods (17%), jewelery (6%) and blankets (1%).
In terms of share of export turnover, three families of products account for more than half of total exports (56%). These are pottery and stone, carpets and basketry (respectively 29%, 14% and 12%).
Good performance of the Australian market in 2021, Europe remains Morocco’s first customer
Australia stood out in 2021 among the demanding markets for Moroccan handicrafts, with an increase of 115% compared to 2020. The African market has also experienced remarkable growth, recording a rate of 68% growth, notably through Senegal, which accounts for half of exports to Africa (51%). In its wake, Nigeria (19%) and South Africa (15%) end up making up the continent’s top three.
North America is not to be outdone in terms of development (58%), with market shares reaching 96% for the USA and 4% for Canada.
The European market, whose annual shift has been moderate in recent years, is showing renewed interest in Moroccan handicrafts. Europe indeed recorded a 49% increase, driven mainly by the Spanish and French markets, which grew by 107% and 54% respectively compared to 2020.
Note also the good performance of the “Other countries” category, which grew by 118%, through new niches such as New Zealand and China.
In terms of participation in export turnover, Europe maintains its position as the leading customer of Moroccan craftsmanship with a share of 45%, including France in the first place (16%), followed by the United States. of America whose share was 30%, and the Arab countries with a share of 13%, essentially through Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar (22%, 19% and 7% in respective shares in the Arab market).
Marrakech and Casablanca still in the lead, strong growth for Nador
During 2021, the city of Nador caught up with the regression suffered over the past three years, increasing its export turnover by 11 times compared to 2020.
Other cities, with small contributions to global exports, are part of this context of strong development, like Agadir (151%), Essaouira (88%) and Rabat (26%).
As for the major exporting cities, Marrakech also shows an upward curve of 75%, followed closely by Fez (73%), and Casablanca (37%).
In terms of shares in global exports, Casablanca and Marrakech continue to be the export locomotives of Moroccan crafts, with respective shares of 46% and 31%. Fez is positioned further with a share of 11%, as is Tangier with 5%.
