Morocco boosts wheat imports amid low prices

Morocco is ramping up wheat imports to ensure three to five months of supplies, taking advantage of lower global grain prices. The country is seeking to replenish its stocks of soft wheat, which is used to make bread and pastries, amid a favorable market environment, according to Abdelkader El Alaoui, president of the National Federation of Mill Owners, SNRTnews reports.

Global wheat prices have been falling since May 2025, according to an analysis by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). El Alaoui said the benchmark price for wheat deliveries to mills is 250-255 Moroccan dirhams ($27.9-28.4) per quintal, below the 270 dirhams ($30) threshold required to receive government subsidies. The subsidies are provided to compensate for the difference between the import price and the cost of delivery to the fields.

Morocco’s Agriculture Minister Ahmed Bouari has forecast that cereal production will reach 44 million quintals in 2025, up 41% from last year. The increase is due to significant rainfall in March-April, which reached 295 mm, which helped the sector recover after a 4% decline last season. The agricultural sector is expected to grow by 5.1% this year.

Despite the improvement, Morocco continues to suffer from a drought that has lasted for six consecutive seasons. The country has taken a number of measures to combat its effects, including canceling the ritual sacrifice for Eid al-Adha in June. The reduction in wheat stocks to four months in May 2022 forced the government to increase imports and diversify sources of supply, in particular through cooperation with Russia, from where agricultural products worth $280 million were imported in 2024.

To support wheat imports, the Moroccan government plans to extend import subsidies until the end of 2025. These measures are aimed at stabilizing food security in the face of climate challenges and lower world prices, which makes it possible to replenish strategic reserves and ensure a stable supply of bread and other products for the population.

Tags: Morocco, wheat, imports