Morocco Tightens Export Controls on Non-Ferrous Metals Amid Resource Scarcity

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The Moroccan Administration of Customs and Indirect Taxes (ADII) has announced the enforcement of tighter regulations on the export of select non-ferrous metals, marking a significant shift in the country’s trade policy concerning high-demand industrial materials. This move, unveiled on Monday, comes in response to an official decree issued by the Ministry of Industry and Trade and published in the Moroccan government bulletin on April 24.

Under the new regulatory framework, the export of raw copper and aluminium ingots will now require an official license. This licensing mandate will apply for a fixed period of two years starting from the date the ministerial order was published. Specifically, the affected copper products fall under the customs tariff codes EX 7403.19.00.00, EX 7403.22.00.00, and EX 7403.29.00.00, while the aluminium products fall under codes EX 7601.10.00.00 and EX 7601.20.00.00.

The ADII clarified that these new measures are not standalone but rather a complement to Morocco’s broader regulatory framework for border control. They are designed to work in conjunction with a 1994 ministerial order that defines the list of goods subject to quantitative export restrictions. Consequently, regulatory documents such as List II from the July 21, 1994, circular and Annex VII.02 of the Customs Import and Export Regulations (RDII) have been updated to reflect these changes.

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 The tightened controls aim to strengthen oversight of valuable metallurgical exports, particularly as global markets face increasing shortages of critical industrial inputs. By imposing licensing requirements, Moroccan authorities seek to prevent unregulated outflows of these resources, ensuring that domestic industries retain access to essential raw materials during times of heightened economic and supply chain uncertainty.