Morocco is preparing to import new shipments of live cattle to meet rising demand for red meat in the coming months, amid a surge in European market prices that is disrupting import plans and prompting questions about the sustainability of relying on the continent as a primary supplier.
Industry sources told Hespress AR that one Moroccan importer is set to bring in a shipment of approximately 1,300 Spanish calves next week. Other importers are expected to follow suit in a bid to secure enough supply for the national market during the high-demand summer period.
However, rising prices across European markets have made cattle imports from the continent increasingly difficult. Sources say that imports from most EU countries have nearly come to a halt, and a near-total pause in European sourcing is now being considered for the coming weeks.
Brazil Gains Ground as Costs Drive Supply Shift
Currently, wholesale prices of Spanish and local beef range between 85 and 90 Moroccan dirhams per kilogram, whereas Brazilian beef is priced more affordably, at 70 to 75 dirhams per kilogram. This pricing advantage has made Brazil an increasingly attractive alternative for Moroccan importers.
Morocco plans to import over 30,000 heads of cattle this summer, a season marked by a sharp rise in red meat consumption. The surge is attributed to wedding celebrations, family gatherings, and the return of large numbers of tourists and Moroccan expatriates.
Sources also noted ongoing supply-demand imbalances in the local meat market, especially after Eid al-Adha. This year, a significant number of Moroccans chose not to slaughter sacrificial animals, increasing the post-holiday demand for commercial red meat.
Import Strategy Under Review
Sector analysts believe Morocco’s growing reliance on Brazilian beef is a pragmatic shift in light of rising import costs from Europe and declining domestic purchasing power. Industry actors are expected to revisit their import strategies, possibly diversifying trade partners to reduce dependency on any single source.
A recent report by Brazilian agribusiness consultancy Scott Consultoria revealed that Morocco ranked third among the largest importers of live cattle from Brazil in May 2025. The country imported over 14,000 heads of cattle valued at more than $16 million USD.
The bulk of these shipments came from the Brazilian state of Pará, with an average weight of 529.3 kilograms per animal, indicating that most of the livestock was intended for direct slaughter rather than fattening — a distinction that contrasts with practices in other import destinations.
Moroccan Importers Pay Premium for Brazilian Cattle
The report also showed that Moroccan importers paid above-average prices, particularly for cattle sourced from the state of Tocantins, where the price reached 16.75 Brazilian reais per kilogram, or $3.08 USD per kilogram, based on the prevailing exchange rate at the time.
As summer demand intensifies, and European markets remain costly, Morocco appears set to strengthen its pivot toward South America, reshaping the structure of its red meat import strategy in the process.
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