Morocco has been ranked the leading African country for exporting consumer goods, according to a report by the platform The African Exponent.
The report says Morocco has quickly become a major manufacturing and export hub in Africa, especially for consumer products.
Over the past decade, Morocco has built strong industrial sectors in cars, electronics, textiles and food processing. The car industry is one of the main drivers. In January 2026 alone, Morocco’s car exports reached about 12.24bn dirhams ($1.22bn), an increase of 19.1% compared with the same month last year.
Sales of car manufacturing components rose by 60.6%, while exports of electrical wiring systems used in vehicles increased by 9.6%.
Morocco’s textile and clothing sector also remains competitive. The country ranked third in Africa for textile exports in 2025. Many European fashion brands rely on Moroccan factories because they can produce clothes quickly and with reliable quality.
Morocco also exports processed food and packaged products. The report says this is supported by the country’s agricultural production and investments in food processing factories.
Trade deals with Europe and other international markets, along with Morocco’s location between Africa and Europe, have helped strengthen the country’s role as an export hub.
Infrastructure also plays a part. The Port of Tangier Med links Morocco’s industrial zones with more than 186 ports around the world, helping goods move quickly to global markets.
In the ranking, South Africa came second, followed by Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire. Other countries on the list include Ethiopia, Egypt, Tunisia, Ghana and Kenya.
Egypt has one of the largest manufacturing sectors in Africa, producing electronics, home appliances, textiles, medicines and processed food. Government programmes such as the “Made in Egypt Electronics” initiative have encouraged international companies to set up local assembly lines that produce millions of electronic devices for export each year.
Kenya ranked seventh in Africa, helped by growing exports of processed food, drinks, textiles and light-manufactured goods. The Kenyan government has also signed trade agreements aimed at reducing tariffs and improving access to foreign markets.
The report says Africa’s export model is changing. Many countries are moving away from exporting raw materials and are focusing more on producing manufactured consumer goods.
According to the analysis, Morocco and Egypt are leading this shift with large-scale production of cars, electronics, textiles and other manufactured products. Meanwhile, Nigeria and Ethiopia are increasing consumer goods production through industrial zones and value-added manufacturing.
The report also says trade within Africa is expected to grow further under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which aims to reduce tariffs between African countries and boost regional trade. It added that countries with strong manufacturing sectors are likely to expand consumer goods exports as global investors continue to increase their presence across Africa.
