Overview
Phosphate production in 2003 totalled 22.88 Mt compared to 23.04 Mt in 2002. Basic phosphoric acid output, was estimated at 2.93 Mt, whilst purified acid production fell from 123,000 t (2002) to 97,000 t (2003). OCP reduced overall fertilisers output by 2.31% from 2.6 Mt in 2002 to 2.54 Mt in 2003. DAP output fell by 16.26% to reach 220,000 t in 2003.
Office Cherifien des Phosphates (OCP) is the world’s largest exporter of phosphate rock and controls all aspects of the phosphate industry in Morocco, including research, exploitation and the production of derivative products such as fertilizers. Most of the high grade resources are exported, whilst lower grade products are beneficiated locally. Although OCP is 100% state owned, it has several co operative ventures with several foreign companies in upgrading and expanding its phosphoric acid plants as well as securing a supply deal with Norwegian company Norsk Hydro. operates three mining centres – Khouribga, Benguérir/Youssoufia, Boucraâ/Laâyoune – and two sites dedicated to converting phosphate rock to chemicals – Safi and Jorf Lasfar. Irrespective of market trends, maintaining employment in the phosphate industry through high production remains a government priority.
Moroccoo is also an important producer of barites, producing 356,394 t in 2003 (487,626 in 2002), with Comabar being the largest single producer, but PMEs contributing 68% of the total output. Talc output fell by 70% to 81,225 t, smectic clays production by 65% to 14,944 t, ghassoul extraction by 50% to 927 t, fluorspar by 14.5% to 81,225 t and salt by 11.5% to 236,443 t.
Participating Organisations
Office Cherifien des Phosphates
OCP is the world’s largest exporter of phosphate rock products in the world.