RABAT, Sept. 7 (Xinhua) -- Morocco's trade deficit increased by 4.3 percent by the end of July to 12.92 billion U.S. dollars, the country's foreign exchange regulator said on Saturday.

According to the office's periodical data published on its website, the coverage rate of imports by exports has reached 57.8 percent against 58.1 percent a year earlier.

The rise in the deficit was driven by a 3.7-percent increase in imports to 30.63 billion dollars, particularly due to a hike in capital goods bill by 8.8 percent and semi-finished products by 5 percent.

Morocco's exports increased by 3.3 percent to nearly 17.71 billion dollars, but remained far less than imports.

Exports of the aeronautical sector increased by 11.5 percent, while those of phosphates and by-products grew by 3 percent, the report said.