Eight soft wheat vessels await unloading at Casablanca port amid logistics bottlenecks

Congestion at Casablanca port continues to delay the unloading of imported grain shipments, raising concerns among industry representatives and consumer advocates over potential disruptions to supply chains and pressure on food prices.

Abdelkader Alaoui, president of the National Federation of Mills, said around eight vessels carrying soft wheat remain anchored at the port awaiting unloading operations, which are scheduled to begin between June 4 and June 15.

The backlog extends beyond soft wheat. Alaoui said three additional ships carrying durum wheat are also awaiting processing, alongside vessels transporting corn, animal feed and other commodities. Port operators are coordinating efforts to extend unloading activities until 10 p.m. in an attempt to ease pressure on facilities and accelerate cargo handling.

The delays come as Morocco enters the Eid period, when transport capacity is reduced and fewer trucks are available to move goods from the port. Alaoui said normal logistics activity is expected to resume next week once holiday-related disruptions ease.

Consumer groups warned that prolonged congestion could translate into higher costs across the supply chain. Ali Chtour, president of the Moroccan Consumer Protection Association, said delays in unloading and processing imported goods risk increasing transportation and storage expenses that could ultimately be passed on to consumers.

Morocco remains heavily dependent on imports for key food staples, particularly soft and durum wheat. While the current agricultural season has shown signs of improved production and yields, Chtour said stable prices will depend on maintaining smooth import flows and avoiding logistical disruptions that increase costs.

He expressed concern that consumers could bear the financial consequences of operational bottlenecks, particularly amid ongoing economic pressures, and called on authorities to accelerate unloading operations, strengthen port logistics capacity and intensify market monitoring to prevent unjustified increases in the prices of essential goods.

The association also cited Morocco’s consumer protection law, which guarantees the protection of consumers’ economic interests and access to goods and services under transparent and fair conditions.]

Tags: Morocco, ports, restrictions, wheat, imports