Morocco faces challenges in collecting record wheat harvest

Following abundant winter rainfall that ended a seven-year drought, Morocco is expecting its cereal production to double in 2026 to around 9 million tonnes. To support local farmers and encourage the use of domestic grain, the government has imposed a 135% customs duty on wheat imports for June and July.

However, the harvest is facing significant logistical challenges. Market participants report shortages of combine harvesters, labor constraints, and rising harvesting costs across several regions. The situation has been further complicated by aging machinery, holiday periods, and wet field conditions that have slowed harvesting operations.

Industry representatives warn that delays in harvesting are increasing the risk of crop losses from heat and fires. In some areas, farmers have to wait days or even weeks for harvesting equipment to become available. At the same time, the expansion of cultivated areas following favorable rainfall has put additional pressure on the country’s limited harvesting capacity.

Grain quality is also emerging as a concern. The average protein content of Moroccan wheat is estimated at around 10.5%, compared with the 11.5% typically required for bread-making flour. Analysts attribute the lower protein levels in part to reduced use of nitrogen fertilizers amid higher global fertilizer prices.

As a result, millers continue to blend domestic wheat with higher-protein imported grain, limiting Morocco’s ability to reduce imports. Authorities have linked a possible resumption of wheat imports from August to the collection of at least 1.2 million tonnes of local wheat, although traders consider the target challenging due to logistical bottlenecks and the tendency of small farmers to retain part of their harvest.

Tags: wheat, harvesting, Morocco