France Becomes Top Wheat Supplier to Morocco, Strengthening Ties

French soft wheat accounted for 54% of Morocco’s total needs for this vital product during the 2023/2024 season, according to the compensation report attached to the draft finance law for the year 2025. With this high rate, France is Morocco’s leading supplier of soft wheat. It outpaces other countries such as Germany, Russia and Romania, which together contribute about 32%. The remaining 14% come from other countries.

Imports of the main cereals reached nearly 96 million quintals during the period from June 1, 2023 to the end of May 2024, an increase of 22.27% compared to the previous season. Morocco imported 48% of soft wheat, 27% of corn, 16% of barley, and 9% of durum wheat. Barley shows the strongest increase in imports (500%). This increase is explained by the government program aimed at mitigating the effects of the drought and providing livestock feed in the areas affected by the Al Haouz earthquake.

In 2023, soft wheat imports experienced notable fluctuations, reaching their lowest level in June. They peaked in July at 8.7 million quintals, the highest level recorded during the year. The average monthly rate of soft wheat imports was around 3.94 million quintals during the period from January to August 2024, with significant variations, ranging from 0.7 million quintals in August to 8.2 million quintals in July.

The State adjusts customs duties according to the evolution of international prices and the economic situation, in order to strengthen the balance between national production and the supply of the soft wheat market, the report points out. As for the cereal processing industries, the industrial mills ground about 59 million quintals during the 2023/2024 season, a decrease of 2.3% compared to the previous season, the same source adds, noting that soft wheat accounts for about 85% of the total cereals ground.