Morocco

Morocco was the world’s second-ranked producer of phosphate rock

Pictured: phosphate rock

Statistics and information on the mining industry in Morocco.

Overview

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 Morocco’s Mining Code was put into effect with the passage of law No. 33-13 of 2015, which repealed the Mining Regulation of 1951.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.

In 2024, Managem was nearing completion of its Tizert copper project and production was expected to begin in 2025. The mine was expected to have an ore-processing capacity of 3.6 million metric tons per year and a production capacity of 120,000 metric tons per year (t/yr) of copper concentrates. In 2024, Managem’s 5,000-metric-ton-per-year cobalt sulfate processing plant was also under construction. Commercial production was expected to start in 2026 for which the Bou-Azzer Mine would supply cobalt ore. In March, the Government established the Jorf Industrial Accelerator Zone for the production of lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO₄) cathodes. Initial investments for this project totaled \$2.3 billion.

2024 Report

Full data release with tables here.

Introduction

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 both 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 (Production table; Jasinski, 2025, 2026; Kim, 2026; Schnebele, 2026; Sheaffer, 2026; Simmons, 2026).

Minerals in the National Economy

In 2024, Morocco’s nominal gross domestic product (GDP) was \$161 billion.¹ 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. The net flow of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Morocco in 2024 increased to \$4.4 billion from \$3.4 billion in 2023, and the FDI into energy and mining increased to \$242 million from \$217 million. (Bank Al-Maghrib, 2024, p. 92, 103; 2025, p. 30, 31, 109, 110, 272).

Government Policies and Programs

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. Law No. 33–13, implemented in May 2016, was designed to attract foreign investment, boost exports, and ensure company compliance with Government labor and environmental laws. 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 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, exploitation of minerals, and the promotion of investment in the mining sector. More-extensive coverage of Government policies and programs can be found in previous editions of this chapter in the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals Yearbook, volume III, Area Reports—International—Africa and the Middle East, which are available at https://www.usgs.gov/centers/national-minerals-information-center/afric… (Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines, 2026).

Production

Data on mineral production are presented in the Production table (formerly table 1).

Structure of the Mineral Industry

OCP Group S.A. (OCP) was 94.12% owned by the Government and was the sole producer of phosphate rock, phosphoric acid, and phosphate fertilizers in the country. Managem S.A. and its subsidiaries 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 companies were primarily small domestic enterprises and artisanal mines. The Facilities table (formerly table 2) is a list of major mineral industry facilities (Facilities table; OCP Group S.A., 2025, p. 43 ).

Minerals Trade

In 2024, the total value of Morocco’s exports increased to \$45.9 billion (estimated) from \$42.5 billion in 2023. The mining sector accounted for \$9.3 billion or 20% of the total value of exports. Phosphate rock, phosphoric acid, and phosphate fertilizers accounted for \$8.7 billion or 94% of the mining sector exports by value. The export of phosphates and derivatives contributed 2.4% to export growth, more than any other sector in 2024. Exports of natural and chemical phosphate fertilizers composed the largest portion of phosphates exports and increased to 12.4 million metric tons (Mt) (estimated) in 2024 from 10.9 Mt in 2023; phosphate rock to 6.8 Mt (estimated) from 4.6 Mt; phosphoric acid to 1.4 Mt (estimated) from 1.2 Mt; and fluorite to 1.1 Mt (estimated) from 0.7 Mt . Exports of barite decreased to 932,000 metric tons (t) (estimated) from 1.0 Mt. Copper ore and other raw products decreased to 117,000 t (estimated) from 130,000 t (Bank Al-Maghrib, 2025, p. 101, 102, 287; Haut-Commissariat au Plan du Maroc, 2026).

In 2024, the total value of Morocco’s imports increased to \$76.6 billion (estimated) from \$72.0 billion in 2023. Morocco imported 8.3 Mt (estimated) of sulfur, an increase from 6.5 Mt in 2023. Morocco was expected to continue increasing imports of sulfur to meet its planned expansion of phosphoric acid production and, subsequently, diammonium phosphate (DAP) and monoammonium phosphate (MAP) fertilizers. Imported ammonia for manufacturing battery-grade MAP increased to 1.8 Mt in 2024 compared with 1.5 Mt in 2023. The country also imported semifinished steel products, including 596,000 t of steel wires and bars and 445,000 t of flat steel products (CRU Group, 2024; Bank Al-Maghrib, 2025, p. 283, 284).

In 2024, the United States was the sixth-ranked partner for Morocco’s exports, which increased to \$1.4 billion from \$1.3 billion in 2023. The United States was the fourth-ranked supplier of Morocco’s goods, with these imports valued at \$7.1 billion (estimated) in 2024 compared to \$6.1 billion (estimated) in 2023 (Bank Al-Maghrib, 2025, p. 288).

Commodity Review

Cobalt.— In 2024, Compagnie de Tifnout Tighanimine (CTT), a subsidiary of Managem S.A., was the sole cobalt producer in Morocco in 2024. CTT produced 150,000 t of cobalt-nickel-gold ore (gross weight) at the Bou-Azzer Mine and refined that ore at Guemassa Metallurgical Complex to produce 1,286 t of cobalt metal in 2024 compared with 1,506 t in 2023. Starting in 2022, CTT stopped reporting nickel production though it may have taken place. In 2024, Managem’s 5,000-metric-ton-per-year cobalt sulfate processing plant was under construction. Commercial production was expected to start in 2026 for which the Bou-Azzer Mine would supply cobalt ore (Facilities table; Hajbi, 2023; Managem S.A., 2025 p. 53, 119, 123).

Copper.—In 2024, all copper concentrate in Morocco was produced by subsidiary mines owned by Managem. Copper concentrate (gross weight) in 2024 decreased by 14% to 92,612 t. The decrease in copper production was primarily the result of lower output from the Draa Sfar Mine operated by Compagnie Minière de Guemassa (CMG) owing to the temporary suspension of processing and reduced production at the Oumjrane Mine operated by Compagnie Minière de Oumjrane S.A. (CMO). In October, Managem announced that it was in the process of selling 100% of a subsidiary, CMO, including the Oumjrane Mine, to MetalNRG plc, the wholly owned subsidiary of Atlas Metals Group plc of the United Kingdom. In 2024, Managem was nearing completion of its Tizert copper project in Caidat adar, Taroudant Province, Souss-Massa Region, and production was expected to begin in 2025. Production would start from an open pit and later transition to being underground. The mine was expected to process 3.6 million metric tons per year (Mt/yr) of ore and produce 120,000 t/yr of copper concentrate. Copper reserves were estimated at 596,000 t and silver reserves were estimated at 1,240 t. The mine would be operated by a Managem subsidiary, Akka Gold Mining Co. (Facilities table; Production table; Financial Times, 2024; Managem S.A., 2025, p. 54, 64, 104, 119).

Lead and Zinc.—Morocco’s production of lead concentrate decreased by 2.9% to 31,553 t in 2024 from 32,509 t in 2023. CMG mined lead and zinc at the Draa Sfar Mine and may have mined in other locations near Draa Sfar, such as Hajar and Tighardine; however, sufficient information was not available to confirm its activities. CMG reported that its total zinc concentrate (gross weight) production decreased by 17% to 37,376 t in 2024 from 45,234 t in 2023. Lead concentrate (gross weight) production decreased by 16% to 7,668 t from 9,149 t in 2023. As of yearend 2024, CMG held 233,000 t of zinc reserves. Compagnie Minière de Touissit (CMT) mined lead-silver-zinc ore at the Tighza Mine. In 2024, the Tighza mine produced 27,547 kg of silver, 22,405 t of lead concentrate, and 2,949 t of zinc concentrate (Facilities table; Production table; Compagnie Minière de Touissit, 2025, p. 10, 11; Managem S.A., 2025, p. 64, 119).

Phosphate Rock.—Morocco’s phosphate rock was mined solely by OCP. In 2024, phosphate rock production was estimated to have increased to 35.3 Mt in 2024 from 32.1 Mt in 2023. OCP also produced 12.3 Mt of solid fertilizers, including 2.7 Mt of triple superphosphate (TSP), 3.8 Mt of MAP, and 4.2 Mt of DAP compared with 10.9 Mt of solid fertilizers, including 1.9 Mt of TSP, 3.4 Mt of MAP, and 3.8 Mt of DAP in 2023. Production of phosphoric acid increased 20% to 7.4 Mt from 6.2 Mt in 2023 (Haut-Commissariat au Plan du Maroc, 2026).

OCP was expanding its phosphate rock production capacity to 70 Mt/yr by 2028 from its 47.5 million-metric-ton-per-year capacity in 2024. Three new OCP fertilizer lines in Jorf Lasfar commenced in 2023 and 2024, each producing 1 Mt/yr of DAP. Also, in Jorf Lasfar, OCP was constructing an integrated purified phosphoric acid plant. Phase 1 was expected to commence in 2026 with designed production capacities, including 200,000 t/yr of pretreated phosphoric acid (P₂O₅ content), 100,000 t/yr of purified phosphoric acid (P₂O₅ content), and 100,000 t/yr of technical MAP. Purified phosphoric acid would be used to produce FePO₄, an upstream material for lithium-iron-phosphate (LiFePO₄) battery cathode production; MAP would be purified to a standard for production of phosphate salts, precursors for LiFePO₄ battery cathodes. By 2029, the plant was expected to be producing FePO₄ and phosphate salts. In March, the Government established the Jorf Industrial Accelerator Zone for the production of LiFePO₄ cathodes at Krakcha, El Jadida Province, Casablanca-Settat Region. Initial investments for this project totaled \$2.3 billion (CRU Group, 2024, p. 3; Mitchell, 2024).

Silver.—Morocco’s silver production decreased to 266,000 kilograms (kg) in 2024 from 277,000 kg in 2023. Société Métallurgique d’Imiter (SMI) produced 127,000 kg of silver in 2024 at the Imiter Mine, a decrease of 9.3% from 140,000 kg in 2023. SMI held 7.3 Mt of reserves grading 298 grams per metric ton (g/t) silver, an increase from 5.6 Mt of reserves grading 298 g/t silver in 2023 after the discovery of 680 t of additional silver reserves, which extended the life-of-mine by more than 3 years (Facilities table; Production table; Société Métallurgique d’Imiter, 2024 p.10, 20; Société Métallurgique d’Imiter, 2025, p. 10, 18, 21).

In 2024, Zgounder Millennium Silver Mining S.A., wholly owned by Aya Gold and Silver Inc. of Canada, produced 51,205 kg of silver from the Zgounder Mine, a decrease of 16.4% from 61,294 kg in 2023 (Junior Mining Network, 2025).

Production table

(Metric tons, gross weight, unless otherwise specified)

Table includes data available through February 26, 2026. All data are reported unless otherwise noted. Estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits. In addition to the commodities listed, gypsum, perlite, pumice, talc and a variety of crude construction materials may have been produced, but available information was inadequate to make reliable estimates of output.
Commodity	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024
Arsenic trioxide	7,694	6,883	5,450	7,700	8,000^e
Barite	501,939	840,486	925,905	931,332	758,060
Bentonite	92,400^e	134,000^e	136,000^e	89,300^e	87,900^e
Cement, hydraulic	12,200,000^e	14,000,000^e	12,500,000^e	12,600,000^e	13,700,000^e
Clays, ghassoul	637	630	331	244	168
Cobalt, mine, concentrates	28,695	24,988	25,000^e	22,500^e	25,000^e
Cobalt, mine, concentrates, Co content	1,900^e	1,600^e	1,700^e	1,500^e	1,300^e
Cobalt, refinery, metal, Co content	2,416¹	1,796¹	1,690¹	1,506¹	1,286¹
Copper, mine, concentrates	107,600	110,013	106,893	107,081	92,612
Copper, mine, concentrates, Cu content	27,000^e	28,000^e	27,000^e	27,000^e	23,000^e
Feldspar, mine	185,772	427,387	587,289	773,761	1,116,046
Fertilizers, phosphate fertilizer	11,200,000	10,900,000	8,920,000	10,900,000^e	12,300,000^e
Fluorspar, acid grade	54,000^e	35,600^e	19,100^e	13,000^e	18,000^e
Fluorspar, metallurgical grade	30,000^e	153,000^e	57,900^e	88,000^e	82,000^e
Fuller's earth, smectite	78,302	84,029	72,148	65,887	85,520
Gold, mine, concentrates, cobalt-nickel-arsenic-gold ore, Au content (kilograms)	143	147	167	104	49
Iron ore, mine	39,200	26,463	13,387	13,500^e	14,000^e
Iron ore, mine, Fe content	16,500^e	13,000^e	7,100^e	7,200^e	7,000^e
Lead, mine, concentrates	54,208	44,485	51,167	32,509	31,553
Lead, mine, concentrates, Pb content	38,000^e	42,300^e	36,000^e	26,000^e	26,000^e
Lead, refinery, secondary	8,000^e	9,800^e	8,000^e	8,000^e	8,000^e
Manganese, mine, ore, 47% to 53% mn, largely chemical-grade, Mn content	24,000^e	35,000^e	43,000^e	38,000^e	44,400^e
Manganese, mine, ore, largely chemical-grade	50,000^e	82,500^e	89,300^e	86,000^e	101,000^e
Mercury, Hg content	2	2^e	2^e	2^e	2^e
Mica	39,600	25,685	20,330	19,995	5,109
Nickel, intermediate, nickel hydroxide, Ni content	142	147	157	140^e	145^e
Nickel, mine, concentrates, Ni content	142	147	157	160^e	160^e
Phosphate rock	37,400,000	38,100,000	30,456,000	32,100,000	35,300,000
Phosphate rock, P2O5 content	11,600,000	11,800,000	9,440,000^e	9,950,000	10,900,000
Phosphate, compounds, phosphoric acid, P2O5 content	6,178,000	7,141,000	6,292,000	6,163,000	7,399,000
Raw steel	1,000,000^e	1,050,000^e	1,550,000^e	1,400,000^e	1,420,000^e
Salt, rock salt	490,896	295,741	652,578	559,149	570,000^e
Silver, mine, concentrates, Ag content (kilograms)	249,000	248,000	271,000	277,000	266,000
Steel products, hot-rolled	1,370,000^e	1,130,000^e	1,340,000^e	2,510,000^e	2,550,000^e
Sulfur, compounds, sulfuric acid, H2SO4 content	22,000,000	21,000,000	19,000,000	20,000,000^e	20,000,000^e
Zinc, mine, concentrates	70,623	79,355	68,775	48,159	40,486
Zinc, mine, concentrates, Zn content	35,000^e	40,000^e	35,000^e	36,000^e	26,000^e
Zinc, smelter, oxide	4,791	2,237	NA	NA	NA

^e Estimated.

^NA Not available.

¹ Cobalt cathodes include cobalt from black mass and cobalt from toll processing.

References Cited

Bank Al-Maghrib, 2024, Annual report 2023: Rabat, Morocco, Bank Al-Maghrib, 356 p. (Accessed March 26, 2026, at https://www.bkam.ma/en/content/download/809663/8903272/RAPPORT%20ANG%20….)

Bank Al-Maghrib, 2025, Annual report 2024: Rabat, Morocco, Bank Al-Maghrib, 352 p. (Accessed March 26, 2026, at https://www.bkam.ma/en/content/download/829011/9037413/Rapport%2024%20A….)

Compagnie Ménière de Touissit, 2025, Rapport financier annuel 2024 [Annual financial report 2024]: Casablanca, Morocco, Compagnie Ménière de Touissit, 153 p. (Accessed March 23, 2026, at https://web.archive.org/web/20260327030455/https://www.cmt.ma/wp-conten….) [In French.]

CRU Group, 2024, Morocco’s phosphate drive: London, United Kingdom, Sulphur Magazine, CRU Group, Issue 415, November/December, 29 p. (Accessed March 23, 2026, via https://www.crugroup.com/en/communities/newsletters-and-magazines/sulph….)

Financial Times, 2024, Acquisition of producing copper mine in Morocco: Financial Times [London, United Kingdom], October 17. (Accessed March 24, 2026, at https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=1323-16720579-7NOOII…;

Hajbi, Maher, 2023, Morocco—Managem bets on cobalt: Paris, France, The Africa Report, July 24. (Accessed March 24, 2026, at https://web.archive.org/web/20250727025207/https://www.theafricareport….)

Haut-Commissariat au Plan du Maroc, 2026, Annuaire statistique du Maroc, année 2025 (format excel) [Statistical yearbook of Morocco, year 2025 (excel format)]: Rabat, Morocco, [High Commission for Planning of Morocco]. (Accessed March 24, 2026, via https://web.archive.org/web/20260319181723/https://www.hcp.ma/downloads….) [In French.]

Jasinski, S.M., 2025, Phosphate rock: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025, p. 134–135.

Jasinski, S.M., 2026, Phosphate rock: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 142–143.

Junior Mining Network, 2025, Aya gold and silver reports Q4 and full year 2024 results—Announces 2025 production and cost guidance: London, United Kingdom, Junior Mining Network, March 28. (Accessed March 24, 2026, at https://web.archive.org/web/20250720073552/https://www.juniorminingnetw….)

Kim, Ji-Eun, 2026, Barite: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 48– 49.

Managem S.A., 2025, Rapport financier annuel 2024 [Annual financial report 2024]: Casablanca, Morocco, Managem S.A., 260 p. (Accessed March 26, 2026, at https://web.archive.org/web/20260327030141/https://www.managemgroup.com….) [In French.]

Mitchell, Jason, 2024, Can Morocco's phosphate wealth put it at the centre of the global battery supply chain?: Berlin, Germany, bne IntelliNews, August 5. (Accessed March 26, 2026 at https://www.intellinews.com/can-morocco-s-phosphate-wealth-put-it-at-th….)

OCP Group S.A., 2025, Consolidated financial statement at 30 June 2024: Casablanca, Morocco, OCP Group S.A., 46 p. (Accessed July 17, 2026, at https://www.ocpgroup.ma/sites/default/files/2025-01/Plaquette%20OCP%20I…;

Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines, 2026, Regulatory texts: Rabat, Morocco, Office National des Hydrocarbures et des Mines. (Accessed March 26, 2026, at https://web.archive.org/web/20260327015418/https://mining.onhym.com/en/….)

Schnebele, E.K., 2026, Arsenic: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 44–45.

Sheaffer, K.N., 2026, Mercury: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 126–127.

Simmons, K.J., 2026, Feldspar and nepheline syenite: U.S. Geological Survey Mineral Commodity Summaries 2026, p. 78–79.

Société Métallurgique d’Imiter, 2024, Rapport financier annuel 2023 [Annual financial report 2023]: Casablanca, Morocco, Société Métallurgique d’Imiter, 127p. (Accessed March 23, 2026, at https://www.managemgroup.com/sites/default/files/2024-04/RFA%20PUBLIABL….) [In French.]

Société Métallurgique d’Imiter, 2025, Rapport financier annuel 2024 [Annual financial report 2024]: Casablanca, Morocco, Société Métallurgique d’Imiter, 127 p. (Accessed March 23, 2026, at https://web.archive.org/web/20260316221903/https://www.managemgroup.com….) [In French.]

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