Drought Threatens Morocco’s Grain Supply, Record Wheat Imports Expected

According to forecasts from the US Department of Agriculture, the decline in local supply could stimulate the region’s wheat purchases by 7.4%, to reach a record 29.7 million tons in the year starting in July.

Thus, for the first time in three seasons, demand would come before that of the Middle East and Southeast Asia. Despite the weakness of cereal supplies, purchases often resume after the end of local harvests and those of the Black Sea and European suppliers.

Morocco could make a record purchase of 5.8 million tons of foreign wheat. To this end, an exceptional measure of exemption from import taxes until the end of 2020 has already been taken. According to the Mediterranean Agricultural Market Information Network, the low rainfall observed this year has been as severe as that of 2016, leading to "critical" harvest prospects.

For Taoufik Saidi, Director General of the National Cereals Office, cereal purchases in Tunisia should increase by a third to reach 2.5 million tons, after the decline in harvests. The USDA, for its part, expects a rebound in purchases in Algeria, one of France’s major customers.