Morocco Turns to Russia and France for Wheat Imports Amid Domestic Shortfall

Morocco needs 5 to 5.5 million tons of soft wheat this year to fill its deficit. The kingdom will be able to count on France, its main supplier, but also on Russia, the world leader in cereal exports. "The Russians offer superior quality while offering the most competitive prices on the market," Omar Yacoubi, president of the National Federation of Cereal and Legume Traders (FNCL), recently told a French media outlet, adding that this new import policy was "strictly cyclical."

Over the past two years, Russia has established itself as a key wheat supplier for Morocco, dethroning France. This dynamic is notably explained by the competitive price of Russian wheat (around $28 per quintal, compared to $50 about two years ago). Even better, the country has diversified its export markets to sell its record production in recent years, setting its sights on the MENA region.

This rapprochement between Russia and Morocco in the context of wheat imports could lead to new partnerships in other strategic sectors such as agriculture or energy. A new commercial dynamic that, of course, is not viewed favorably by France, the kingdom’s main wheat supplier. French wheat exports to Morocco have fallen in recent years, and the trend is likely to continue if Rabat maintains its Russian imports.

France is facing the pressure of new competitors that have emerged on the global market, such as Russia, Ukraine or Kazakhstan. It will have to find the right strategy to reconquer the Moroccan market and regain its position as the leading exporter of wheat to Morocco. For its part, the kingdom would benefit from diversifying its supply sources to avoid falling into dependence on Russia.