Morocco is preparing to resume wheat imports from Sept. 16 after millers secured only about 6 million quintals from the domestic harvest, leaving local supplies far short of the quantities needed to cover national milling demand, industry officials said Wednesday.
Omar El Yaakoubi, president of the National Federation of Grain and Legume Traders, told Hespress that imports had become necessary to rebuild strategic stocks after many farmers held back part of this season’s harvest rather than selling it to storage operators.
Morocco had effectively halted soft wheat imports in June to prioritize the improved domestic harvest. Authorities later maintained a 170% import duty through the end of August to support local producers.
Abdelkader Alaoui, president of the National Federation of Millers, said the roughly 6 million quintals collected so far represent only 10% to 12% of mills’ annual needs, estimated at around 50 million quintals.
“We cannot wait,” Alaoui told Hespress, adding that stocks used since June were declining. Mills would need to secure about 44 million additional quintals, with imports expected to cover most of the shortfall.
The collection result is also well below the 15 million to 20 million quintals millers had initially targeted from the 2026 domestic crop.
El Yaakoubi said wheat remained widely available on international markets, but shipping costs posed the main risk as geopolitical disruptions continued to affect maritime freight.
He estimated imported wheat would arrive at Moroccan ports at more than MAD 270 per quintal.
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