At a time when relations between Spain and Morocco are more in the spotlight than ever – two countries separated by a mere 14 kilometres across the Strait of Gibraltar – the two kingdoms maintain a relationship characterised by strong commercial, economic and logistical ties.
Bilateral trade reached 22,757 million euros in 2025, consolidating Spain’s position as one of Morocco’s main trading partners and reinforcing the strategic role of the Strait as a corridor between Europe and North Africa.
During the first half of 2026, Spanish exports to Morocco grew by 3.5% to 6,420.5 million euros, whilst imports rose by 4.1% to 5,795.5 million. These figures maintain the traditional trade surplus in Spain’s favour and highlight the growing interdependence of the two economies.
Industrial integration and economic interdependence
The integration of the two economies has intensified in recent years. Morocco has established itself as an industrial hub geared towards European markets, particularly in sectors such as the automotive industry, whilst numerous Spanish companies are involved in its supply chains. This situation gives rise to growing economic interdependence, although this is not necessarily symmetrical.
Geographical proximity is one of the key assets of this relationship. The short distance between the two markets facilitates more agile supply chains and supports nearshoring strategies that aim to bring production closer to European consumer markets in order to avoid dependence on Asian markets.
Energy, a strategic resource
The energy sector is another cornerstone of this relationship. Spain maintains a positive electricity balance with Morocco, characterised by a substantial flow of gas, one of the main energy products that Spain supplies to the country. Added to this is the significant trade in petroleum products, which also accounts for a substantial proportion of Morocco’s energy imports.
Although Morocco is making progress in developing renewable energy generation and diversifying its energy supply sources, its energy links with Spain remain of strategic importance and reinforce the interdependence between the two countries.
The Strait, a vital corridor
The growth in trade and energy exchanges places the Strait of Gibraltar in a key position within Euro-African supply chains. The ability to move goods efficiently between both sides of the strait is essential to keep pace with developments in economic and trade agreements.
Operinter has had a presence in Morocco since many years, currently through its Alonso Forwarding Morocco branch in Casablanca, which forms part of its international network. This coverage provides local knowledge and operational capacity in a market that is playing an increasingly important role in logistics between Europe and Africa.
The evolution of trade flows between Spain and Morocco confirms a clear trend: geographical proximity, connectivity and the diversification of supply chains are making the Europe–Morocco axis an increasingly important corridor for international trade.
