Morocco has emerged as Africa’s most industrialised country, overtaking South Africa for the first time, according to the 2025 African Industrialisation Index released by the African Development Bank (AfDB).
The report, presented on the sidelines of the AfDB Annual Meetings in Brazzaville, highlights Morocco’s sustained industrial growth driven by export diversification, upgraded productive capacity, and consistent industrial policy implementation.
South Africa, long regarded as the continent’s industrial benchmark, now ranks second, reflecting what the AfDB describes as a gradual erosion of its lead.
The Bank noted that Morocco’s rise marked a significant shift in Africa’s industrial landscape.
Morocco’s performance is attributed to over two decades of targeted industrial strategy, integration into global value chains, and heavy investment in infrastructure.
Key sectors underpinning this growth include automotive, aerospace, electrical, chemical, and agro-processing industries.
“These sectors have fostered an export-oriented model supported by industrial zones, free trade areas, efficient ports, and strong partnerships with global firms,” the report stated.
The AfDB Industrialisation Index assessed all 54 African countries over the period 2010 to 2024, measuring not only production volume but also sophistication, competitiveness, and integration into value chains.
According to the report, 41 African countries recorded improvements in their industrialisation scores, contributing to a six per cent rise in overall continental performance.
However, progress remains uneven, with North and Southern Africa maintaining dominance.
Morocco’s automotive sector has become a major manufacturing and export hub, particularly for European markets.
The aerospace sector has also shown strong growth. In October 2025, Safran announced a €200 million investment in an aircraft engine assembly line and maintenance facility near Casablanca.
The country currently hosts about 150 aerospace companies employing approximately 25,000 people, with sector exports reaching 26 billion dirhams in 2024.
Despite these gains, the report emphasised that Africa’s industrialisation remains limited globally, accounting for less than two per cent of worldwide manufacturing output and 1.4 per cent of manufactured exports.
The AfDB also launched an Industrial Investment Barometer, which indicates that North Africa leads the continent in industrial diversification, investment attractiveness, and production capacity.
The region attracted 56 per cent of Africa’s cumulative industrial investment between 2020 and 2025, with Morocco and Egypt leading.
The Bank noted that Morocco’s industrial model offers a strategic blueprint for the continent, combining investment attraction, sector development, and export competitiveness.
However, it stressed that sustaining leadership will require Morocco to deepen local value addition, develop skills, promote environmentally sustainable industry, and contribute to broader continental industrial integration.
Source: businesspostonline
