Morocco imported approximately 81,300 tons of soft wheat from Russia as of December, 2023–representing a fourth of its total imports in this category–while jumping by 8,200 tons to almost 80,900 tons of Russian wheat in November, according to statistics from the National Federation of Cereals and Legumes Traders (FNCL).
Almost 70% of these goods were unloaded in Casablanca’s port, with the remainder at Nador’s port.
Russia is currently Morocco’s third largest soft wheat exporter, after only France (89,100 tons) and Lithuania (81,901 tons).
“Imports vary according to market conditions, most competitive origins, and local market supply needs,” FNCL President Omar Yacoubi told local media.
Morocco’s National Interprofessional Office for Cereals and Legumes (ONICL) developed an import reimbursement scheme on September 13 that enabled the country to purchase over 756,700 tons of soft wheat between October and December.
This strategy intends to encourage Moroccan businesses to import two million tons of this crop within the international market between October 1 and December 31, 2023.
On November 21, the Office declared that this technique will be extended, allowing for the import of 2.5 million tons of soft wheat from January 1 to April 30.
The Moroccan government grants a flat-rate premium equal to the difference between the cost price at port exit and the reference import price of 270 dirhams per quintal. From December 1 to December 31, 2023, it was fixed at 28.75 dirhams per quintal.
The Moroccan government has permitted a flat-rate premium of 270 MAD per quintal, which is the difference between the cost price at the port of departure and the reference import price.