Morocco's Grain Import Surge in March 2026
In a significant development for agricultural trade, Morocco's grain and feed imports reached an impressive 1.48 million metric tons in March 2026, marking the highest monthly volume in nine months. This surge, reported by Platts, a division of S&P Global Energy, highlights the ongoing reliance of Morocco on imported grains due to the adverse effects of two consecutive years of drought that have severely impacted local agricultural production. A Moroccan trader emphasized that this trend indicates a persistent structural dependency on imports, stating, "Morocco remains structurally dependent on imports because of a chronic domestic production shortfall." Despite these challenges, the Moroccan High Commission for Planning has projected a recovery in cereal output for 2026, estimating total production to range between 8 million and 9 million metric tons, which includes approximately 5 million metric tons of soft wheat. This projection represents a substantial increase from the previous year's harvest of 4.4 million metric tons, which comprised around 2.4 million metric tons of soft wheat.
Future Outlook and Market Dynamics
Looking ahead, a Moroccan buyer noted that if the favorable crop conditions anticipated in April materialize, there may be a shift in the country's import strategy. "If these favorable crop conditions are confirmed in April, Morocco may close its border to wheat imports for two to three months, from May through the end of August," the buyer remarked. However, uncertainties such as potential weather risks, including dry winds and rainfall variability, could still influence the agricultural landscape. The March import statistics also revealed a robust demand for animal feed, with corn imports totaling 477,507 metric tons and soft wheat at 480,741 metric tons. Additionally, soybean meal imports accounted for 169,059 metric tons, while distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) reached 79,578 metric tons, indicating that buyers are proactively securing feed supplies amidst the fluctuating market conditions.
During the first quarter, Moroccan ports faced operational pressures due to weather-related challenges and global shipping delays, resulting in significant congestion. Reports indicated that around 80 ships were anchored off the coast of Casablanca, with approximately 25 vessels specifically carrying cereals. In terms of distribution, the port of Jorf Lasfar handled the largest volume of imports in March, totaling 658,228 metric tons, while Casablanca followed closely with 626,476 metric tons. Notably, France remained the dominant supplier of wheat, providing 295,346 metric tons, followed by Argentina. The United States led the corn shipments with a total of 378,910 metric tons, and Canada was responsible for all durum wheat imports during the month. Since the start of the 2025/26 marketing year up to March 31, Morocco has imported a total of 11.349 million metric tons of cereals and related products, with France being the leading supplier overall.
As reported by millingmea.com.
