Morocco: increase in industrial production in March, the first 4 months

The survey revealed, however, that industrial production is still down from its level in March 2012, with a negative balance of opinion of 24 points.

For the next three months, 50 per cent of manufacturers are optimistic about the development of the business and provide 44 per cent stagnation it said, the survey noted that all branches have experienced an improvement in activity with the exception of textile and leather where 38 per cent industrials declare an increase in activity and 32 pc down.

The food manufacturers expect an improvement as textiles and leather, mechanical and metallurgical industries anticipate stagnation. In chemical and para-chemical, electrical and electronic industries, manufacturers are shared between those that rising and stagnating.

For their part, overall sales were up in March compared with February, the balance of opinion is 38 points, said the same source.

By industry, sales in the food, chemical and para-chemical and mechanical and metallurgical would rise, while industrial electrical and electronic branches are shared between the lower (49 per cent) and higher (47 per cent ). For textiles and leather, 38 per cent of respondents reported an increase, 30 per cent and 32 per cent stagnation down.

For the next three months, 51 per cent industrials report improved sales and 44 per cent stagnation. By industry, the food manufacturers expect an increase, those of textile and leather and mechanical and metallurgical industries expect a stagnation, while respondents in the electrical and electronic industries, chemical and para-chemical are shared between stagnation and rising.

As for new orders, 55 per cent industrial say they have stagnated in March from the previous month. By industry, these commands have recorded an increase in the mechanical and metallurgical industries, down to 45 per cent and 39 per cent for the stagnation of the respondents in the electrical and electronic industries and stagnation in other branches.

Regarding the level of backlog, it is considered normal by 72 per cent of manufacturers. This observation is valid for all industries, with the exception of the textile and leather with 51 per cent of respondents estimating stagnation and 46 per cent down.

In terms of stocks of finished products, 70 per cent of industrials feel they are at their normal level. This percentage is 87 per cent in the food industry and 82 per cent of those in mechanical and metallurgical.

In chemical and para-chemical, electrical and electronic industries, 51 per cent of respondents report that their stocks are at their normal levels, respectively, against 45 per c ent and 28 per cent believe that higher than normal.

As for the stocks of finished products, in March, 63 per cent of industrials state that prices for finished products stagnated and 26 per cent below the estimate in relation to their level of February.

By industry, the industrial branch of chemical and para-chemical industries are shared between stagnation (49 per cent ) and lower (43 per cent), while in the other branches, taken together, these prices have stagnated in 86 per cent of respondents.

For the next three months, 89 per cent of industrials expect a stagnation of prices of finished products. This percentage is 98 per cent in electrical and electronic industries and 92 per cent in those in chemical and para-chemical industries.

Regarding the utilisation of production capacity, it would have recorded a slight increase to 68 per cent after 67 per cent in February. By industry, this rate reached 78 per cent in electrical and electronic industries, 70 per cent for food and textile and leather, 68 pc for the mechanical and metallurgical industries and 64 per cent in the chemical and para-chemical industries .

The monthly BAM survey of industrial conditions is an opinion survey conducted among a representative sample of 400 companies operating in the domestic industrial sector. It aims to provide high quality data in a short time to allow an assessment of the industrial environment for good decision making.