RABAT, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Trade deficit of Morocco widened by 5 percent, or a total of 7.08 billion U.S. dollars, in the first four months of 2019, according to data released by the Moroccan foreign currency regulatory office on Wednesday.

The trade deficit at the same period last year stood at 6.7 billion dollars.

The rise in the deficit was driven by the 7.5-percent increase in imports, which amounted to 17.54 billion dollars, the office said, adding that the coverage rate was 59.9 percent instead of 60 percent the same period last year.

Imports of energy products and raw materials increased by 7 and 2.1 percent respectively by April, while equipment products rose by 7.2 percent.

At the same time, Morocco's exports increased by 4.5 percent to reach nearly 10.55 billion dollars.

The increase in exports was pushed by a hike of 16.1 percent in phosphate exports, 9.8 percent in aeronautics products, and 4.3 percent in agriculture products.