Morocco's Grain Imports from European Union Reach Remarkable Heights
In a notable turn of events, recent data unveiled by Eurostat, the esteemed European statistics office, reveals Morocco's emergence as a significant importer of grain from the European Union (EU). In 2023, the North African nation imported a staggering 5 million tons of grain from the 27 member states of the EU, solidifying its position as a major player in global agricultural trade.
At the forefront of Morocco's grain suppliers stands France, a powerhouse in the agricultural sector. The French nation exported an impressive 2 million tons of grain to its North African counterpart, accounting for a substantial portion of the total imports from the EU. Following closely, Germany, another agricultural heavyweight, supplied Morocco with over 1 million tons of grain during the same period, consolidating the dominance of these two European nations in the Moroccan grain market.
The concentration of Morocco's grain imports on the German and French markets underscores the Kingdom's strategic approach to securing a steady supply of this vital commodity. The lion's share of the EU's grain exports to Morocco originated from these two countries, highlighting the depth of their trade relationships.
In 2023, the National Office of Cereals and Pulses (ONICL) implemented a comprehensive support program for imports, catering to the needs of professionals in two distinct phases, totaling a remarkable 5 million tons. This proactive measure aimed to bolster the nation's grain reserves and mitigate the impacts of successive drought years that have plagued the country.
Eurostat's data further reveals that Moroccan professionals, buoyed by the dedicated support program, focused their import efforts primarily on the French and German markets, solidifying these nations as the preferred sources for their grain requirements.
While imports from other major grain-producing regions, such as Russia, Ukraine, and Canada, have yet to surpass the one-million-ton mark, according to industry figures, Morocco's reliance on the European Union remains unwavering.
Bank Al-Maghrib, the central bank of Morocco, anticipates that the nation's grain harvest in 2024 will reach a total of 25 million quintals, a significant decrease from the 55.1 million quintals achieved in the previous year. The bank further affirmed that forecasts indicate a contraction in agricultural value added by 6.4% in 2024, before rebounding with a 12.8% increase in 2025, contingent upon a return to an average grain production of 55 million quintals.
In a proactive measure to mitigate the effects of the ongoing drought, the ONICL announced a comprehensive package of initiatives in early February. Among these measures was the provision of support for soft wheat imported for storage, amounting to MAD 2.5 per quintal. This strategic move aims to fortify Morocco's grain reserves during a period of agricultural adversity.
The ONICL, entrusted by law with the crucial task of monitoring the supply and marketing of cereals and pulses, has set an ambitious goal of providing 10 million quintals of soft wheat over the next three months. This substantial quantity is expected to be distributed evenly, with 3 million quintals being supplied monthly during February and March, while the quantity will rise to 4 million quintals in April.
Returning to the Eurostat figures, Morocco's wheat imports from Europe surpassed those of China, a remarkable feat given the latter's vast population and agricultural demands. The United States, however, remains firmly entrenched on the list of countries that import the most wheat from the 27 EU nations, underscoring the global nature of the agricultural trade.