Casablanca – Morocco is expanding its livestock import options and relying on foreign suppliers to address persistent pressures on the domestic red meat market, as successive drought years, declining pastureland and difficulties in rebuilding the national herd continue to constrain local production. The government’s response combines imports of live animals, efforts to diversify supply sources and measures intended to maintain market availability and limit price fluctuations.

The latest development is the authorization of imports of live buffalo originating in Brazil and intended for slaughter. Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock announced that Moroccan authorities had formally approved the imports, adding Morocco to a group of countries opening or expanding access to Brazilian agricultural and livestock products.

The decision broadens the range of animals that Moroccan importers can potentially source from Brazil. However, the announcement did not specify the quantities expected to arrive, the timing of the first shipments or the precise contribution the new imports could make to domestic meat supplies.

The authorization comes amid a broader effort to secure sufficient livestock for slaughter while the national herd remains under pressure. Rather than relying exclusively on domestic production, Morocco has increasingly used imports to bridge the gap between available supplies and consumer demand.

Imports take a central role

Figures released by Morocco’s Ministry of Agriculture show the scale of the country’s reliance on imported cattle. During 2026, an average of approximately 24,000 head of cattle intended for slaughter were imported each month, although volumes varied considerably throughout the year.

Imports exceeded 44,000 head in June and July before falling to around 17,000 head in each of August and September. The figures indicate that import volumes can fluctuate significantly depending on purchasing schedules, market conditions and the availability of animals from exporting countries.

A total of 37 companies participated in importing cattle for slaughter during the year. Brazil accounted for more than 90% of the total number of imported animals, making it the dominant supplier under the arrangements reported by Moroccan authorities.

This concentration reflects both the importance of Brazilian livestock in Morocco’s supply system and the limited availability of alternative sources under current conditions. The government has presented imports as part of its efforts to maintain red meat supplies and contribute to price stability, particularly when domestic production cannot fully meet market requirements.

The latest authorization for Brazilian buffalo adds another potential source of animals, but it does not by itself establish how much additional meat will reach Moroccan consumers. The impact will depend on the number of animals imported, transport and handling costs, slaughter capacity and the prices at which the resulting meat is sold.

European restrictions reshape sourcing

Morocco’s livestock procurement strategy has also been affected by animal health concerns. Imports from European countries were suspended following the spread of lumpy skin disease among European cattle herds, according to the Moroccan Federation of Livestock Sector Operators.

The restriction reduced access to a group of suppliers that would otherwise offer an alternative to South American markets. Portugal has subsequently emerged as another potential source, with Moroccan authorities reporting an increase in import requests during October after imports from the Portuguese market were reopened.

Portugal’s geographical proximity to Morocco offers logistical advantages compared with more distant suppliers. Shorter transport routes can help reduce transit times and may provide importers with greater flexibility when arranging deliveries. Nevertheless, the scale of future purchases will depend on the availability of suitable animals, applicable veterinary requirements and commercial conditions.

The renewed access to Portugal suggests that Morocco is seeking to broaden its procurement options rather than depend entirely on one exporting country. Diversification could help reduce exposure to supply disruptions in any single market, although the extent of this benefit will depend on whether alternative suppliers can provide sufficient volumes at competitive prices.

The Brazilian market remains particularly important in the meantime. Its share of more than 90% of imported cattle demonstrates how heavily Morocco’s current procurement system depends on one source. Any disruption affecting Brazilian availability, international transport or import costs could therefore have implications for domestic supply.

Frozen beef imports remain another channel

Alongside live cattle, Morocco imports beef from Brazil. Data from the Brazilian Beef Exporters Association indicate that Morocco imported 419 tonnes of Brazilian beef between January and September 2026. The corresponding figures were more than 4,800 tonnes in 2025 and 1,558 tonnes in 2024.

These figures show that trade in Brazilian beef has varied considerably from year to year. The lower volume recorded during the first nine months of 2026 does not necessarily indicate a decline in total Moroccan beef imports, since the figures cover only Brazilian supplies and do not account for purchases from other countries or domestic production.

Live animals and imported beef serve different roles in the supply chain. Imports of cattle allow animals to enter the domestic slaughter and distribution system, while imported meat can provide another means of supplying retailers, food-service businesses and other buyers. The relative importance of each channel depends on costs, consumer demand, processing capacity and the availability of products that meet market requirements.

The government has sought to use imports to prevent shortages from translating into greater pressure on retail prices. However, the final price paid by consumers also depends on transport, slaughter, distribution and retail costs. Increasing the volume of imported animals therefore does not automatically guarantee an equivalent reduction in the price of meat.

Drought remains a structural challenge

The pressure on Morocco’s red meat market is closely linked to difficult conditions in the livestock sector. Successive years of drought have reduced the availability of pasture and increased the difficulty of maintaining livestock herds. Water scarcity and higher costs associated with feeding animals can put additional pressure on farmers, particularly those who depend on grazing rather than purchased feed.

When pasture becomes scarce, livestock owners may need to buy more feed to keep animals in adequate condition. These additional expenses can affect decisions about breeding, retaining young animals and selling livestock. If farmers reduce herd sizes to manage costs or respond to a lack of resources, domestic supplies can take time to recover even when weather conditions improve.

Rebuilding the national herd is therefore a longer-term process than purchasing animals from abroad. Breeding requires time, sufficient feed and water, and conditions that allow young animals to survive and mature. Measures aimed at restoring domestic production must consequently address both the immediate availability of meat and the resources needed to sustain livestock farming.

Imports can help cover supply gaps while these pressures persist, but they also expose the market to international prices, exchange-rate movements, shipping expenses and changes in export policies. A strategy based heavily on imported livestock may provide short-term flexibility without resolving the underlying constraints affecting domestic production.

Diversification and market stability

The authorization of Brazilian buffalo imports fits into this broader approach to securing supplies. Brazil has also announced new agricultural and livestock export approvals involving several other countries, including Argentina, Peru, Egypt, Kenya and Singapore. These agreements concern different products, ranging from seeds and animal feed ingredients to hides and livestock-related products.

For Morocco, the immediate significance of the decision is that it creates an additional option for importing live animals from an established trading partner. The authorization itself, however, should be distinguished from actual shipments: no import volumes or delivery timetable were included in the Brazilian announcement.

The government’s wider challenge is to maintain a reliable flow of meat into domestic markets while limiting the risks associated with concentrated sourcing. Expanding access to additional suppliers, subject to veterinary and commercial requirements, could provide greater flexibility. At the same time, a lasting improvement in market resilience will depend on the recovery of domestic livestock production.

The effectiveness of the current measures will ultimately be reflected in the availability of red meat, the stability of prices and the capacity of farmers and importers to maintain supplies through changing market conditions. Imports remain an important instrument for addressing immediate shortages, but their long-term role will depend on how successfully Morocco combines external procurement with measures to strengthen its own livestock sector.