Russia targets 1 million tonnes of wheat exports to Morocco in 2024/2025

MOROCCO – Russia aims to export 1 million tonnes of wheat to Morocco during the 2024/2025 marketing year, nearly doubling its shipments from the previous year.

This ambitious move solidifies Russia’s growing influence in the North African wheat market, where Morocco, a significant importer, is grappling with severe drought and supply chain disruptions.

North Africa remains a critical region for global wheat exporters, importing over 30 million tonnes annually, accounting for two-thirds of its consumption.

Morocco, alongside Egypt and Algeria, is among the largest importers. However, Morocco’s wheat production has suffered considerably. According to the FAO, the country’s 2023/2024 harvest dropped by 42% to 3.3 million tonnes, one of the lowest levels in 15 years, exacerbating its dependency on imports.

This situation is compounded by France, traditionally Morocco’s primary wheat supplier, experiencing its worst harvest in four decades. With only 26.3 million tonnes produced, a 25% drop compared to 2023, France’s export capacity has dwindled, leaving room for competitors like Russia to expand.

Russian exporters have seized this opportunity to strengthen their presence in Morocco. In the first five months of the 2024/2025 campaign, Russia shipped 700,000 tonnes of wheat to Morocco, more than double France’s 300,000 tonnes.

This marks a significant shift, as French exports to Morocco had reached 1.2 million tonnes during the same period a year earlier.

In August 2024, Russia overtook France as Morocco’s leading wheat supplier for the first time. With competitive pricing and high protein content, Russian wheat has gained favor among Moroccan buyers, outpacing rivals from Romania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, and Poland.

The USDA estimates that Morocco will import a record 7.5 million tonnes of wheat in 2024/2025 to meet domestic demand, where per capita consumption is among the highest globally at 288 kg per year.

This demand underscores the essential role of wheat in Moroccan diets, both urban and rural.

France’s export outlook to Morocco remains grim, with anticipated shipments of just 1.5 million tonnes in 2024/2025, a 53.5% drop from the previous marketing year.

Meanwhile, Russia’s goal of 1 million tonnes appears within reach, underscoring its growing dominance in the region.

The Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) announced recently that Russia initiated its first wheat export to Togo, dispatching a 27,000-ton shipment from the Leningrad region.

According to the food safety watchdog, this development is part of Russia’s broader strategy to enhance its grain exports to Africa. In the 2023/24 marketing year, Russia achieved a record wheat export volume of 41.8 million tons, marking a 7% increase from the previous year.

The expansion into Togo signifies Russia’s efforts to diversify its export markets and strengthen trade relations across the African continent.

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