Morocco imports almost all of its coal from Russia

Morocco relies heavily on Russian coal imports, which increased significantly in the first 11 months of 2020. Morocco imported 87 percent of the total coal deliveries of Russia, up from 57 percent a year earlier, Argus media reported.

The same source indicates that the South African deliveries «accounted for just 1 percent of Moroccan imports in January-November, compared with 6 percent in the same period a year earlier».

The trend in Moroccan imports since 2012 shows the shift from the US to Russia, Morocco’s current primary source. Between January and November 2012, «US material accounted for 80 percent of Moroccan imports, with Russian receipts making up just 15 percent».

This shift was encouraged by a change in Russian and US coal price spreads. But so far in 2021, the spread has widened to $18.82/t, which could encourage a recovery in Moroccan demand for US coal.