Morocco’s Iconic Bread Price Stable Despite Global Wheat Concerns

Expert and professional sources told Hespress that durum wheat prices have increased largely due to geopolitical factors (Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, two major wheat exporters), but also to climatic factors and free market mechanisms. As for the rise in durum wheat prices, it is due to the impact of import operations from Canada, the current leading global supplier, which is facing droughts. Thanks to state support and the existence of a substantial reserve of soft wheat, bread prices - a central element in the diet of Moroccans - subsidized, produced from ordinary wheat, will not, explain the same sources, undergo any change either in the present or in the future. "Prices (of bread) will not be affected in any way," they assured.

Questioned on the subject, Moulay Abdelkader Alaoui, president of the National Federation of Milling, says that "the soft wheat market is very stable, with a price of 300 dirhams per quintal at most. On the other hand, we are seeing a clear rise in durum wheat prices on world markets, currently reaching 600 dirhams." According to him, this situation is explained by the climatic problems facing Canada, the world’s leading supplier of durum wheat. "This price increase also coincides with the harvest period of this country, which negatively impacts its domestic production," he continues, stressing that "the production deficit of durum wheat in Canada is the main reason for the rise in prices of this raw material in Morocco. We also expect the prices of fertilizers and pasta to be affected soon."

Alaoui will add that this situation also applies to exports of iconic products such as Moroccan couscous and pasta, which rely exclusively on this Canadian fertilizer, thus consolidating their reputation in Europe.