Morocco is stands as a strategic supplier of critical minerals, according to new data from the US Geological Survey (USGS), as major economies seek to secure vulnerable supply chains.
The USGS Mineral Commodity Summaries 2025 lists Morocco among global producers of arsenic, barite, cobalt and phosphate, minerals that are vital for energy, industry and agriculture and for which the United States is heavily dependent on imports.
Morocco produces about 6,000 tonnes of arsenic a year, nearly 10 percent of global output, and has a refining capacity of around 8,000 tonnes. It is the second-largest supplier of arsenic to the United States, accounting for 34 percent of US imports between 2020 and 2023. The US relies entirely on imports for the mineral, which is used in batteries, semiconductors and pesticides.
The country also produces around one million tonnes of barite annually, more than 12 percent of global supply. Barite is used mainly in oil and gas drilling, as well as in ceramics, glass and medical imaging. Morocco provides close to 17 percent of US barite imports, in a market where more than 75 percent of American consumption comes from abroad.
Morocco has a refined cobalt capacity of about 1,506 tonnes, or less than 1 percent of global production. Cobalt is a key component in rechargeable batteries, catalysts and medical products.
The USGS report also highlights the strategic importance of phosphate rock in global fertiliser systems. While it does not break down reserves by country, phosphate is a sector in which Morocco is a major global player.
The findings come as the United States seeks to diversify supplies of more than 50 minerals for which it has significant import dependence.
Speaking at a ministerial meeting on critical minerals in Washington, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Morocco had a “key role to play” because of its resources, investment in processing and willingness to cooperate internationally.
Morocco’s foreign minister, Nasser Bourita, said the country offered a reliable and stable partnership and called for Africa to move beyond exporting raw materials towards building value chains. Morocco and the United States signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in critical minerals and rare earths on the sidelines of the meeting.
