In 2024, Morocco remained the world’s second-ranked producer of phosphate rock after China and accounted for an estimated 15% of global production. The country was ranked first in phosphate rock reserves with 50 billion metric tons, which represented an estimated 68% of the world’s reserves. Morocco was the third-ranked producer of arsenic (arsenic trioxide, 9.6%, estimated) after Peru and China, and barite (12%, estimated, not including United States production) after India and China; the fourth-ranked producer of mercury (0.9%, estimated); and the eighth-ranked producer of feldspar and nepheline syenite (2.3%, estimated). Other mineral commodities produced in Morocco included cement, clays (bentonite, fuller’s earth, and ghassoul), cobalt, copper, fertilizers (phosphate), fluorspar, gold, iron ore, lead, manganese, mica, nickel, phosphate compounds, salt, silver, raw steel, steel products, sulfuric acid, and zinc.
In 2024, Morocco’s nominal gross domestic product (GDP) was \$161 billion. The country’s real GDP increased by 3.8% (estimated) compared with an increase of 3.7% in 2023. The mineral industry, including mineral fuels, accounted for 2.1% (estimated) of the GDP, and the output value increased to \$3.4 billion (estimated) in 2024 from \$2.4 billion in 2023. Morocco’s Mining Code was put into effect with the passage of law No. 33-13 of 2015, which repealed the Mining Regulation of 1951. The Ministère de l’Energie, des Mines et du Développement Durable [The Ministry of Energy, Mines and Sustainable Development] is responsible for enforcing mining law, awarding mining licenses, and managing the country’s mineral resources. The Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines [National Office of Hydrocarbons and Mines] carries out exploration, development, and mining of minerals, and the promotion of investment in the mining sector. OCP Group S.A. was 94.12% owned by the Government and was the sole producer of phosphate rock, phosphoric acid, and phosphate fertilizers in the country. Major private international companies included Managem S.A. and its subsidiaries, which were the sole producers of cobalt, copper, and gold concentrates, refined cobalt and copper, and sulfuric acid in the country; and produced most of the country’s lead, silver, and zinc concentrates. The balance of the companies were primarily small domestic enterprises and artisanal mines.
