Decline in Wheat Exports Forecasted for Morocco
In a recent announcement, officials have indicated that France is likely to experience a decrease in soft wheat exports to Morocco for the 2026/2027 season, attributed to improved rainfall and a resulting increase in local crop yields within the kingdom. Philippe Husserl, the international president of the French grain group Intercereal, revealed that France exported approximately 3.5 million tons of wheat to Morocco during the marketing season of 2025/2026, which ran from June to May, a period that was marked by drought that adversely affected Morocco's production and the quality of its harvest. Typically recognized as one of the leading buyers of wheat, Morocco had temporarily halted soft wheat imports in June, aiming to safeguard its domestic crop, which surged to over 4.4 million tons. However, imports resumed in September, and according to Husserl, France is expected to export lesser quantities of wheat to Morocco between September 2026 and May 2027. He assured that there are sufficient supplies to meet Morocco's needs without any hindrances.
Impact of Global Conditions on Local Markets
France has reported a wheat harvest of 32 million tons for this year. Kentan Pelé, a representative from the National Union of Foreign Trade in Grains in France, noted that following the lifting of the import ban, Paris has sent 600,000 tons to Morocco since the beginning of October. Pelé estimated that imports of French soft wheat from Morocco would be around 2.5 million tons from September to May, although he cautioned that this figure remains uncertain due to the instability in the Black Sea region, another major production area. Mulay Abderrazzak El Alaoui, president of the National Federation of Mills in Morocco, expressed hope for a resolution to the situation in the Black Sea, which would help restore some level of calm and stability to the market. He pointed out that strong demand from Europe has tightened wheat supplies and driven prices up, as Moroccan importers look to source wheat from France, Germany, and other European suppliers to rebuild their stocks. Currently, El Alaoui stated that Morocco's stocks stand at about 600,000 tons, sufficient for roughly two months of local consumption.
Furthermore, the government increased import support to 44.48 dirhams per quintal (approximately $44.63 per ton) in October, up from 20.8 dirhams in September. El Alaoui highlighted that the return of significant wheat shipments in October could put pressure on logistics services at ports and land transport capabilities, raising concerns about a potential recurrence of the congestion issues experienced in ports earlier this year. Adverse weather conditions earlier in the year had already delayed unloading operations for grain shipments at the Port of Casablanca, forcing vessels to wait in anchorage areas and increasing costs for importers.
As reported by alquds.co.uk.
