MOROCCO – According to the Moroccan government’s latest figures, the country’s wheat and barley production dropped by 43% in the 2024/25 marketing year (MY) due to severe drought.
The total production for 2024 includes 1.77 million metric tons (MMT) of common wheat, 0.70 MMT of durum wheat, and 0.65 MMT of barley. These numbers mark a sharp decline from the previous season, with Morocco’s agricultural sector feeling the ongoing effects of climate challenges.
In response to reduced domestic production and strong global wheat prices, the Moroccan government has continued supporting wheat imports by offering a flat-rate subsidy valid until September 30, 2024.
This measure has been essential in stabilizing wheat supply amid the adverse impacts of low production and price fluctuations.
The country has turned to Russia and Ukraine as key suppliers of wheat, marking a significant change from its previous reliance on other countries.
Wheat imports from Canada and Argentina dropped by 22% and 100%, respectively, while Russia and Ukraine have increased their market shares due to favorable pricing.
Russia’s wheat exports to Morocco surged from zero in previous years to over 503,000 metric tons (MT) in MY 2023/24. Ukraine also saw a remarkable increase of 762%, supplying 174,000 MT. Meanwhile, the European Union continues to dominate Morocco’s barley imports, accounting for 80% of the market share in the same period.
Wheat imports totaled over 6 million MT in MY 2023/24, with projections showing a rise to 7.5 million MT in MY 2024/25, reflecting the country’s increased reliance on external supplies.
In contrast, wheat exports remain minimal, with Morocco exporting just 125,337 MT, mainly in the form of processed wheat products like pasta and couscous, to West Africa.
Barley imports, driven by the agricultural sector’s need for feed, have also seen a substantial increase, particularly from the European Union and Russia.
Morocco imported over 1.5 MMT of barley in MY 2023/24, marking a 343% increase from the previous year. This surge can be attributed to the growing demand for livestock feed, which is essential for the country’s agricultural economy.
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