Morocco to temporarily suspend soft wheat imports amid larger domestic harvest

Morocco will suspend soft wheat imports from June 1 to July 31, 2026. The announcement was made by Abdelkader Alaoui, head of the country’s millers federation. The decision is linked to expectations of a sharp increase in domestic grain production after abundant rainfall effectively ended a seven-year drought.

Morocco’s cereals harvest this season, including soft wheat, is expected to double to 9 mln tonnes. In recent years, prolonged drought forced the country to significantly increase wheat imports under a government subsidy program.

Morocco traditionally restricts grain imports during the local harvest period in order to support domestic farmers. Due to its strong import demand, the country has recently become the largest overseas buyer of European Union wheat.

According to FranceAgriMer, French soft wheat exports to Morocco reached 2.7 mln tonnes during July-March, nearly double the average volume for the same period over the previous five years. Meanwhile, the USDA forecasts that Morocco’s wheat imports, including durum wheat, will decline to 4 mln tonnes in the 2026/27 season, down 40% from the expected level in the current season.

Despite the upcoming suspension of imports, Moroccan ports remain congested. Alaoui said around 300 thousand tonnes of soft wheat are currently waiting to be unloaded at the port of Casablanca due to delays and heavy traffic.

Tags: wheat, imports, Morocco, restrictions