Deliveries included quantities from France, Romania, Lithuania, Poland, and Russia. This import follows the establishment, on September 13, of a new restitution system aimed at encouraging the acquisition of 2 million tonnes of wheat on the international market between October 1 and December 31, 2023. the objective is to fill the deficit caused by drought and secure national stocks.
According to FNCL figures consulted by Le360, the volume of soft wheat unloaded in Moroccan ports in October amounted to 256,013 tonnes, less than the 369,862 tonnes imported in September. The port of Casablanca received the largest amount of cargo, with 216,413 tonnes, followed by the ports of Agadir (33,000 tonnes) and Jorf Lasfar (6,600 tonnes).
France remains Morocco’s main supplier with 103,275 tonnes imported, ahead of Romania (59,459 tonnes), Lithuania (33,000 tonnes), Poland (32,979 tonnes), and Russia (27,300 tonnes). Russia, the world’s leading exporter of wheat, is making a remarkable return to the Moroccan market, thus confirming its renewed activity after the 27,500 tonnes imported in September. Omar Yacoubi, president of the FNCL, expressed the hope of importing more Russian wheat and diversifying sources of supply.
To date, it is difficult to determine whether the 2 million tonne target will be reached by the end of December. The flat-rate premium, set at 27.01 dirhams per quintal in September by the National Interprofessional Office for Cereals and Legumes (ONICL), rose to 28.43 dirhams per quintal in November. This increase aims to further support purchases by Moroccan importers, faced with a surge in wheat prices on the international market due to the war between Russia and Ukraine.
