Morocco-EU pharma trade gap widens as bloc posts record surplus

Eurostat data show Morocco imported more than €660mn of medical and pharmaceutical products from the European Union last year, while exporting just €21.5mn, underscoring a widening trade imbalance.

The figures come as the EU cements its position as a global pharmaceuticals powerhouse. The bloc exported more than €366bn worth of medical goods in 2025, against imports of €145.7bn, generating a record trade surplus exceeding €220bn.

Exports rose by 16 per cent year on year, outpacing already strong import growth, with Ireland, Germany and Belgium leading outbound shipments. The United States remained the largest export market, accounting for more than 43 per cent of EU pharmaceutical sales abroad, followed by Switzerland and the United Kingdom.

Imports into the EU were concentrated among the same partners, with the US, Switzerland and China the leading suppliers.

Eurostat said the bloc’s pharmaceutical trade surplus has expanded sharply over the past decade, driven by export growth consistently outpacing imports, reinforcing Europe’s central role in global drug manufacturing and distribution.