Morocco has imported nearly 5 million tons of grain from the 27 European Union countries in 2023, according to recent data from the European statistics office, Eurostat.
France was the main supplier of grain to Morocco in 2023, accounting for over 2 million tons of the total imports from the EU.
German grain imports reached over 1 million tons in the same year.
The Moroccan imports of grain in 2023 were concentrated on the German and French markets, which accounted for the lion’s share of the EU’s grain exports to the Kingdom.
In 2023, the National Office of Cereals and Pulses (ONICL) implemented a support program for imports for professionals in two parts, up to 5 million tons.
This program was renewed this year as well, given the weakness of national stocks and the succession of drought years.
Eurostat data shows that Moroccan professionals focused on two import markets after this dedicated support: France and Germany.
Imports from the Russian, Ukrainian and Canadian markets still do not exceed one million tons, according to figures from industry professionals.
Bank Al-Maghrib expects that the grain harvest in 2024 will reach a total of 25 million quintals, compared to 55.1 million quintals last year.
The bank affirmed that forecasts indicate a contraction in agricultural value added by 6.4% in 2024, before rising by 12.8% in 2025, assuming a return to an average grain production of 55 million quintals.
At the beginning of February, the ONICL announced a package of measures relating to grain storage in Morocco, as soft wheat imported for storage is to be supported by MAD 2.5 per quintal, at a time when the national agricultural sector is experiencing the repercussions of the drought.
The office, which is entrusted by law with the task of monitoring the supply and marketing of cereals and pulses by monitoring the activity of private operators and their stocks of these materials, is seeking to provide 10 million quintals of soft wheat during the next three months.
It is expected in these next three monthst d that 3 million quintals of this material will be provided monthly during each of February and March, and the quantity will reach 4 million quintals during April.
Going back to Eurostat figures, Morocco’s wheat imports from Europe exceeded those imported by China, while the United States remains on the list of countries around the world that import the most wheat from the 27 EU countries.
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