How to pay Chinese suppliers from Morocco
To pay a Chinese supplier from Morocco, file an import title on PortNet, domicile it with your Moroccan bank, and have the bank pay the supplier, usually in US dollars, by transfer, documentary credit or documentary collection, in principle after the goods clear customs. Under the Office des Changes' IGOC 2026, a deposit before shipment is limited to 30% of the import value and full advance payment to MAD 200,000 per invoice, as summarized by Upsilon Consulting. This guide covers the rules, the routes, published bank charges, the documents and the position on crypto.
- Under the IGOC 2026, any import of goods with payment needs an import title filed on PortNet and domiciled with a Moroccan bank, which checks that the contract and payment terms comply with the exchange rules.
- Payment is in principle made after the import title is charged against the customs clearance on PortNet, within the cleared amount plus freight, ancillary costs and insurance where applicable.
- A deposit of up to 30% of the total import value is allowed if the contract provides for it, and 100% advance payment is allowed for invoices up to MAD 200,000.
- Any other payment before customs clearance needs authorization from the Office des Changes, and an importer must not split an import to benefit from the advance payment rules.
- Crédit du Maroc's published tariff from 9 March 2026 charges 110 dirhams per import title domiciliation plus 50 dirhams stamp duty, and 2.50 per thousand for the first month of an import documentary credit, minimum 250 dirhams.
- Morocco banned crypto trading in 2017, and draft Bill No. 42.25, which would license crypto assets including stablecoins, was still under review in July 2026.
How to pay a Chinese supplier from Morocco: the short answer
A Moroccan business pays a Chinese supplier through its Moroccan bank, under the exchange control rules of the Office des Changes, Morocco's foreign exchange authority. Those rules are set out in the General Instruction on Foreign Exchange Operations (Instruction Générale des Opérations de Change, or IGOC), overhauled in 2026. They decide when you may pay, how much you may pay before the goods arrive, and which documents the bank needs.
The usual sequence for an order from China is:
- Agree the price, the payment terms and the Incoterm with the supplier, and get a proforma invoice or contract. An Incoterm is a standard trade term, such as FOB or CIF, that sets who pays freight and insurance.
- File the import title on PortNet, Morocco's national single window for foreign trade procedures, and domicile it with your bank.
- Pay a deposit of up to 30% if the contract provides for it, or open a documentary credit.
- Clear the goods: customs charges the import against the title on PortNet.
- Pay the balance through the bank, quoting the PortNet registration number and domiciliation date.
The bank usually sends the payment by SWIFT, the international messaging network banks use for cross-border payments. Each bank has an 8 or 11 character SWIFT code. This guide covers the Moroccan side of each step. For the supplier's side, such as how Chinese factories invoice and how to pay a Hong Kong account, see our general guide on how to pay suppliers in China.
The import title, PortNet and domiciliation
Upsilon Consulting, a Moroccan advisory firm, summarizes the IGOC 2026 rules on goods imports, citing Articles 46 to 68. The core of the system is the import title, which links the payment to the customs clearance.
How the import title works
Any import of goods with payment needs an import title filed on PortNet and domiciled with a bank (Article 47). Domiciliation means registering the import with a named bank, which then handles its payments and documents. Before it domiciles the title, the bank checks that the contract matches the title and that the payment terms comply with the exchange rules. Domiciliation opens an import file, which holds the contract or invoices, the transport documents for a documentary credit or collection, the bank payment voucher and any foreign loan agreement (Article 48).
PortNet gives the title a registration number. That number and the domiciliation date must appear on every bank payment form (Article 50). When the goods clear customs, the title is charged on PortNet against the clearance, which Upsilon calls customs imputation (Article 49).
When payment is made
Payment is in principle made after customs imputation and within the imputed amount, plus freight, ancillary costs and insurance where applicable (Article 50). There is no maximum payment deadline, but the bank must record each payment on PortNet within 3 working days. Payments above the imputed amount are allowed only in listed cases, such as loss or damage before unloading.
| Rule | What it says | IGOC article |
|---|---|---|
| Import title | Required for any goods import with payment; filed on PortNet and domiciled with a bank | Art. 47 |
| Bank check before domiciliation | Contract matches the title; payment terms comply with exchange rules | Art. 47 |
| Import file | Contract or invoices, transport documents, payment voucher, any foreign loan agreement | Art. 48 |
| Payment forms | Must show the PortNet registration number and domiciliation date | Art. 50 |
| Timing of payment | In principle after customs imputation, within the imputed amount plus freight, ancillary costs and insurance | Art. 50 |
| Bank reporting | Each payment recorded on PortNet within 3 working days | Art. 50 |
| Freight | Included in the import value or paid in dirhams; in foreign currency by exception under EXW, FCA, FAS or FOB terms | Art. 56 to 57 |
| Import that does not happen | Repatriate transferred foreign currency without delay and give the bank evidence | Art. 68 |
Source: Upsilon Consulting, Goods import in Morocco: exchange control, domiciliation and PortNet (IGOC 2026; published 1 June 2026, updated 5 October 2026). As published on 29 October 2026. Confirm current rules with your bank or the Office des Changes.
Deposits and advance payments: the 30% rule
Chinese factories often ask for money before production. The IGOC allows it within set limits, and anything beyond them needs authorization from the Office des Changes.
| Case | What may be paid before customs clearance | IGOC article |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit under the contract | Up to 30% of the total import value, if the contract provides for it | Art. 53 |
| Small invoices | 100% of the invoice up to MAD 200,000 or the equivalent | Art. 54 |
| Payment from an exporter's foreign currency or convertible dirham account | 100%, where the contract allows | Art. 54 |
| Operators categorized by the Office des Changes | 100% of the invoiced amount | Art. 17 and 62 |
| Registered aeronautics and space companies | Advance payment up to MAD 1,000,000; deposits up to 50% | Art. 64 and 66 |
| Balance payable before the goods arrive | No deposit allowed, unless paid by documentary credit or documentary collection | Art. 53 |
| Any other payment before clearance | Needs Office des Changes authorization | Art. 53 |
Source: Upsilon Consulting, Goods import in Morocco (IGOC 2026). As published on 29 October 2026.
A convertible dirham account is a dirham account whose balance can be converted back into foreign currency. Categorized operators are companies the Office des Changes has categorized, which gives them the wider limits shown in the table. If the final invoice is higher than planned, the bank may still pay the balance where the deposit exceeds 30% by no more than 5% of the final invoice; beyond that, authorization is needed.
Two practical points follow for an order from China. First, write the deposit into the contract, because the 30% deposit depends on it. Second, do not divide a large order into several invoices under MAD 200,000 to pay them in advance: Article 68 forbids splitting an import to benefit from the advance payment rules.
How the money reaches a Chinese supplier
Most Chinese suppliers invoice in US dollars, and many sell through a Hong Kong trading company with a Hong Kong bank account. The IGOC recognizes bank transfer, documentary credit and documentary collection as settlement methods; offsetting a debt against a supplier outside the permitted framework needs authorization.
| Route | How it works | Fit with the IGOC |
|---|---|---|
| Bank transfer by SWIFT | Your bank sends USD to the supplier's account in China or Hong Kong | Deposit up to 30% under the contract; balance after customs imputation |
| Documentary credit | Your bank promises to pay the supplier when it presents documents that match the credit | Named in the deposit rule as an exception for balances payable before the goods arrive |
| Documentary collection | Banks release the shipping documents to you against payment or acceptance | Allowed as a settlement method |
| Payment in yuan (CNY) | Ask your bank whether it can send yuan and at what rate | Same IGOC rules; compare the total cost with the dollar route |
Sources: Upsilon Consulting, Goods import in Morocco (IGOC 2026); supplier-side checks from PNC Bank. As published on 29 October 2026.
A documentary credit, or letter of credit (LC), is a bank's written promise to pay the seller when it presents documents that comply with the credit's terms. A documentary collection sends the shipping documents through the banks, and you receive them only after you pay or accept a bill of exchange. For a new Chinese supplier that wants most of the price before shipment, ask your bank how a documentary credit fits the IGOC: Upsilon's summary names documentary credits and collections as the exception when the balance falls due before the goods arrive.
What the supplier's bank checks
China manages foreign exchange through the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE). As summarized by PNC Bank, a Chinese company must be on SAFE's list of companies with goods trade foreign exchange business, and the supplier's bank verifies each receipt using documents such as the contract, invoice and customs declaration. The remitter and the beneficiary must be the parties to the contract. A payment from a company that is not on the contract can be held while the supplier's bank asks questions, so the seller on your import title should be the company that receives the money.
What it costs: published bank charges
Each Moroccan bank publishes its own tariff. The table shows one bank's published charges for the steps in this guide, as an example of the items to budget for on each order.
| Item | Published charge |
|---|---|
| Domiciliation of an import title | 110 dirhams per title, plus 50 dirhams stamp duty |
| Import documentary credit, opening | 2.50 per thousand for the first month, minimum 250 dirhams; 1.25 per thousand for each further month, minimum 50 dirhams |
| Import documentary credit, payment commission | 1.25 per thousand, minimum 200 dirhams |
| Import documentary credit, acceptance | 2% a year, minimum 100 dirhams |
| Import documentary credit, file fee | 150 dirhams per file |
| Import documentary collection | 2 per thousand, minimum 150 dirhams, plus a documentary commission of 1.5 per thousand for payment (minimum 150 dirhams) and a 150 dirham file fee |
| Correspondent fees on a transfer with OUR charges (Europe) | 150 dirhams for business clients |
Source: Crédit du Maroc, tariff brochure, rates in force from 9 March 2026, as published on 29 October 2026. Other banks set their own charges.
On a documentary credit for MAD 400,000 open for one month, the opening commission at 2.50 per thousand is MAD 1,000 and the payment commission at 1.25 per thousand is MAD 500, before the file fee and correspondent charges. Three costs sit outside the tariff: the exchange rate your bank applies when it sells you dollars, correspondent bank charges on the way to China, and the supplier's own bank charge.
Send SWIFT payments with the charge code OUR, which means you pay all transfer fees and the supplier receives the full invoice amount. SHA shares the fees, so intermediary deductions come out of the amount, and BEN puts all fees on the supplier. Our guide to SWIFT fees under OUR, SHA and BEN explains the difference.
Documents that tie the payment to customs
The bank, customs and the supplier's bank each match the same facts: the supplier's name, the invoice number, the value and the PortNet registration number. Keep them identical across every document.
| Stage | Document | Issued by |
|---|---|---|
| Before ordering | Contract or proforma invoice, stating any deposit | Supplier and importer |
| Before paying | Import title on PortNet, domiciled with the bank | Importer and bank |
| Each payment | Bank payment form showing the PortNet registration number and domiciliation date; SWIFT confirmation | Importer and bank |
| After shipment | Bill of lading, commercial invoice, packing list | Carrier and supplier |
| Clearance | Customs declaration; customs imputation of the title on PortNet | Importer or customs agent; customs |
| After payment | Bank records the payment on PortNet within 3 working days | Bank |
Source: Upsilon Consulting, Goods import in Morocco (IGOC 2026). Typical sequence; requirements vary by bank and product. As published on 29 October 2026.
A bill of lading is the document the shipping line issues when it receives the goods. Article 68 makes the importer responsible for making sure the title is imputed on PortNet when the goods clear. If the import is cancelled after a deposit, the foreign currency must be repatriated without delay, so agree a refund clause with the supplier before you pay.
Agents, cards and crypto: what goes wrong
Some importers pay through an agent who collects dirhams in Casablanca and pays the supplier from an account in China, or through a trader who settles in stablecoins. The facts below are what an importer should weigh before using these routes.
- The import title still applies. Any import of goods with payment needs a domiciled title on PortNet. A payment made by someone else does not appear in your import file, so the bank cannot match it to the clearance.
- Offsetting needs authorization. Settling a debt by offset outside the permitted framework requires Office des Changes authorization.
- The supplier's bank may query it. China's rules expect the payer to be the party on the contract. A transfer from an agent's account is a payment from a third party.
- Crypto is banned for now. Morocco banned crypto ownership and trading in 2017, with the Office des Changes among the authorities enforcing it on the basis that virtual currencies breach the exchange rules, as reported by Morocco World News. Draft Bill No. 42.25, which would license crypto assets including stablecoins, was still under review in July 2026.
Individuals not registered in the trade register may import without an import commitment up to MAD 20,000 per person per year. A business buying stock for resale should use the import title route.
Where Helm fits, and where it does not
Helm is a financial technology company, not a bank. Accounts are held with regulated partner institutions. Helm does not currently provide USD account details to companies based in Morocco, and its USDC and USDT features are available only where local law allows, which rules them out in Morocco while Bill 42.25 is not in force. The rest of this guide applies whichever Moroccan bank your company uses. Our page on USD accounts in Morocco covers the options that are available.
Where Helm can help today:
- Group companies outside Morocco. If your group buys through a trading company registered in a country Helm serves, that company can hold USD account details in its own name and send international payments by SWIFT to Chinese suppliers, with the rate, fee and expected arrival shown before sending. A Moroccan resident investing in such a company needs Office des Changes authorization unless it falls within the annual allowance set by circular.
- Buyers of Moroccan goods. A foreign buyer with a Helm account can pay Moroccan exporters by SWIFT.
Goods entering Morocco still need a domiciled import title and customs clearance, whichever company paid the supplier. To ask whether Helm can serve your company, contact the team; pricing is agreed with each business before the account opens.
A checklist for paying a Chinese supplier from Morocco
- Write the payment terms, including any deposit, into the contract before you file the import title.
- File the import title on PortNet and domicile it with your bank before paying.
- Keep the deposit within 30% of the import value, or use a documentary credit.
- Do not split an order into invoices under MAD 200,000 to pay them in advance.
- Quote the PortNet registration number and domiciliation date on every payment form.
- Send transfers by SWIFT with charges set to OUR.
- Pay the balance after customs imputation, and check the title has been charged on PortNet.
- If an order is cancelled after a deposit, have the supplier refund it and give your bank the evidence.
For how other importers organize supplier payments, see the importers page.
Open a Helm account
USD, EUR and GBP accounts in your company's name, with a named account manager.
Open accountQuestions
How do I pay a Chinese supplier from Morocco?
File an import title on PortNet, domicile it with your Moroccan bank, then have the bank pay the supplier by transfer, documentary credit or documentary collection, usually in US dollars. Payment is in principle made after the goods clear customs, with a deposit of up to 30% allowed if the contract provides for it.
How much can I pay a Chinese supplier in advance from Morocco?
As summarized by Upsilon Consulting, the IGOC 2026 allows a deposit of up to 30% of the total import value if the contract provides for it, and 100% advance payment for invoices up to MAD 200,000. Other payments before customs clearance need Office des Changes authorization, unless made by documentary credit or collection.
What is an import title in Morocco?
An import title is the record of a goods import filed on PortNet and domiciled with a Moroccan bank. It is required for any goods import with payment, and its PortNet registration number must appear on every bank payment form.
What is PortNet?
PortNet is Morocco's national single window for foreign trade procedures. Importers file import titles on it, banks record payments on it within 3 working days, and customs charges the title against the clearance on it.
Can I pay the full amount to a Chinese supplier before shipment?
Only in limited cases: invoices up to MAD 200,000, payments from an exporter's foreign currency or convertible dirham account where the contract allows, categorized operators, or payment by documentary credit or collection. Otherwise it needs Office des Changes authorization.
Is there a deadline to pay a supplier after import in Morocco?
Upsilon Consulting's summary of the IGOC 2026 states that no maximum payment deadline is set for imports. Payment is in principle made after customs imputation, within the imputed amount plus freight, ancillary costs and insurance.
What do Moroccan banks charge for an import letter of credit?
Each bank publishes its own tariff. Crédit du Maroc's tariff from 9 March 2026 lists 2.50 per thousand for the first month of an import documentary credit, minimum 250 dirhams, and 110 dirhams plus 50 dirhams stamp duty to domicile an import title.
Can I pay a Chinese supplier with USDT from Morocco?
Morocco banned crypto ownership and trading in 2017, and the Office des Changes has enforced it as a breach of the exchange rules. Draft Bill No. 42.25 would license crypto assets including stablecoins, but it was still under review in July 2026.
Does Helm offer USD accounts to Moroccan importers?
Helm does not currently provide USD account details to companies based in Morocco, and its USDC and USDT features are available only where local law allows. A group trading company registered in a country Helm serves can hold an account in its own name.
Why does my Chinese supplier want payment to a Hong Kong account?
Many Chinese factories sell through a Hong Kong trading company that holds a Hong Kong bank account. Make sure the Hong Kong company is the seller on the contract behind your import title, so the payment and the import file match.
References
- Upsilon Consulting: Goods import in Morocco, exchange control, domiciliation and PortNet (IGOC 2026)
- Crédit du Maroc: Tariff brochure (rates in force from 9 March 2026)
- PNC Bank: Navigating China's regulations on foreign exchange for goods trade
- Morocco World News: Bank Al-Maghrib confirms progress on crypto law (22 July 2026)
- Upsilon Consulting: Exchange status in Morocco under the IGOC 2026
This guide is general information for businesses, not financial, legal or tax advice. Rules, fees and timings were checked against the sources listed on the review date and may change.