Morocco’s wheat import capacity surges with over 1.1 million tons from Russia

MOROCCO – Morocco imported more than 1.1 million metric tons of wheat from Russia by the end of June 2025, marking a 2.3-fold increase compared to the previous agricultural season, according to a report by Interfax, citing data from the Russian Federal Center Agroexport.

This sharp rise in wheat imports signals a notable expansion in Morocco’s grain import capacity and reflects broader shifts in global grain flows, especially as countries reassess their supply strategies amid mounting geopolitical and climate pressures.

The surge in volume pushes Morocco ahead of Nigeria, which imported around 1.05 million tons during the same period, and brings it close to Iran’s reduced intake of 1.07 million tons.

This development places Morocco among the top importers of Russian wheat, alongside Turkey and Bangladesh, and just behind Egypt, which retained its position as Russia’s largest wheat customer with imports exceeding 8 million tons.

Morocco’s growing demand for imported wheat is largely driven by a significant decline in local cereal production.

The Moroccan Ministry of Agriculture reports that total cereal output dropped to just 55.1 million quintals, equivalent to 5.51 million metric tons, in 2023. This marks a 67% decrease from the 2021/22 season and is largely attributed to ongoing drought conditions and irregular rainfall.

As a result, the country has had to increasingly rely on imports to meet domestic consumption, which typically averages between 9 and 10 million tons annually. Morocco also ranks among the world’s highest wheat consumers on a per capita basis, with an average annual consumption of over 200 kilograms.

The Russian Grain Union reports that the country is on track to export over 42 million tons of wheat in the current 2024/25 season ,  its third-highest volume ever,  and may reach 45 million tons in 2025/26. The country’s competitive pricing, driven by favorable weather and production conditions, continues to make it a preferred source for wheat-importing nations.

In addition to Morocco, countries such as Vietnam, Libya, and Bangladesh recorded notable increases in Russian wheat imports. Vietnam’s intake, in particular, nearly tripled. Meanwhile, Russian wheat shipments resumed to Togo and Sierra Leone for the first time in several years. On the other hand, traditional buyers like Saudi Arabia and Iran significantly cut back on their purchases during the same period.

Morocco’s rising import volumes are also supported by ongoing investments in port infrastructure and storage capacity.

The National Ports Agency (ANP) has reported capacity upgrades in key ports including Casablanca, Jorf Lasfar, and Nador, designed to improve throughput efficiency and handle growing grain shipments. These improvements are critical for ensuring that rising import volumes can be absorbed quickly and distributed across the country’s milling and food systems.

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