Casablanca – Morocco has sharply increased its purchases of Canadian durum wheat at the beginning of the 2026-2027 marketing season, highlighting the country’s continued reliance on international suppliers to secure supplies of essential agricultural commodities. Canadian shipments to the Kingdom reached 228,707 tonnes in August and September, compared with 61,986 tonnes during the same period in 2025, representing an increase of nearly 269%.

The surge has placed Morocco at the top of the list of destinations for Canadian durum wheat during the first two months of the new season. It also illustrates how Morocco is diversifying its import sources to offset domestic production shortages, respond to changing agricultural conditions and maintain sufficient supplies for its food-processing sector.

The increase comes at a time when Morocco’s cereal import requirements are evolving in different directions. While purchases of durum wheat and maize are rising, imports of soft wheat have fallen considerably following an improvement in domestic harvests. These contrasting developments reflect the country’s efforts to balance domestic agricultural production with international procurement, while adapting trade policy to fluctuations in supply and demand.

Canadian shipments gain importance in the Moroccan market

Canadian durum wheat exports to Morocco recorded a particularly strong increase during August and September 2026. Shipments through licensed Canadian grain terminals reached 228,707 tonnes, compared with 61,986 tonnes a year earlier. The increase of 268.97% means that volumes multiplied by approximately 3.7 in one year.

Total shipments of durum wheat through these terminals reached 743,978 tonnes during the first two months of the 2026-2027 marketing season, against 351,776 tonnes during the corresponding period in 2025, representing an overall increase of 111.5%.

Morocco accounted for 30.7% of these exports, compared with 17.6% a year earlier. The additional 166,722 tonnes supplied to the Moroccan market represented approximately 42.5% of the total growth in shipments recorded by Canada’s licensed export facilities. This indicates that Morocco has become one of the main contributors to the expansion of Canadian durum wheat exports at the start of the season.

The Kingdom’s position is particularly significant given the competition among major importing markets. Italy, traditionally an important destination for Canadian durum wheat, has moved closer to Morocco, with the difference between the two markets falling to less than 5,000 tonnes. The figures suggest that demand from both countries remains strong, although Morocco currently occupies the leading position.

The latest developments also mark a reversal from the previous marketing season. In 2025-2026, Canada exported a record 5.85 million tonnes of durum wheat, but shipments to Morocco declined by 18%. The sharp increase recorded in the opening months of the current season therefore points to a renewed expansion in commercial exchanges between the two countries.

Rising durum wheat demand reflects domestic supply constraints

Morocco’s increased purchases of Canadian durum wheat are part of a broader trend in which the country continues to depend on international markets to compensate for fluctuations in domestic cereal production. Although agricultural output has improved following recent rainfall, several years of drought have affected cultivated areas, reduced soil moisture and weakened the country’s capacity to meet domestic demand consistently.

Durum wheat occupies a particular position in Morocco’s food supply system because of its importance in the production of semolina, pasta, couscous and other traditional food products. Maintaining sufficient availability is therefore important for both household consumption and the activities of food-processing companies.

By the end of September 2026, Morocco’s durum wheat imports had reached approximately 1.06 million tonnes, an increase of 9% compared with the same period a year earlier. During the first four months of the 2026-2027 marketing season, covering June to September, imports amounted to 437,765 tonnes, up 12% year on year. More than 410,000 tonnes of these shipments originated in Canada.

The concentration of Canadian supplies in Morocco’s recent procurement figures highlights the importance of reliable international partnerships. However, the country’s sourcing strategy also depends on maintaining access to several exporting markets to reduce exposure to supply disruptions, price fluctuations, transport costs and changes in international trade conditions.

Diversifying import sources is particularly relevant for a country whose agricultural production remains vulnerable to rainfall patterns. Domestic harvests can vary considerably from one season to another, making it difficult for importers and public authorities to establish stable procurement schedules based exclusively on local production.

Canada’s position in this market is supported by its substantial durum wheat production and export capacity. For the 2026-2027 season, Canadian production is projected at approximately 6.415 million tonnes, with ending stocks estimated at 1.35 million tonnes. These volumes provide an important supply base for international buyers, including Morocco.

Soft wheat imports follow a different trajectory

While durum wheat purchases are increasing, Morocco’s soft wheat imports have experienced a dramatic contraction. The difference reflects the improvement in domestic production and the measures introduced to regulate foreign purchases following a better agricultural season.

Between June and September 2026, Morocco imported only 59,721 tonnes of soft wheat, compared with nearly 1.49 million tonnes during the same period in 2025. This represents a decline of approximately 96%.

The reduction followed several developments, including improved domestic harvesting conditions after years of drought, the suspension of external purchases and the temporary reinstatement of a 170% import duty between June 1 and July 31.

For the first nine months of 2026, soft wheat imports reached 2.44 million tonnes, compared with 3.71 million tonnes during the corresponding period in 2025, representing a decrease of 34%.

Nevertheless, domestic grain collection remained below initial expectations, prompting the authorities to reactivate financial support for soft wheat imports intended for industrial milling. The measure, effective from September 16 through December 31, seeks to facilitate supplies to flour mills and limit the risk of shortages in the domestic market.

This adjustment illustrates the difficulties involved in managing cereal procurement in a country where agricultural output can change significantly depending on rainfall and seasonal conditions. Even when domestic production improves, the authorities must retain sufficient flexibility to respond to potential gaps between available supplies and consumption requirements.

Maize strengthens its position in cereal imports

Another important development in Morocco’s cereal trade is the continued increase in maize purchases. By the end of September 2026, imports had reached 2.83 million tonnes, up 21% compared with the same period a year earlier.

Maize has consequently become the country’s leading imported cereal by volume. Its growing importance reflects demand from several agricultural and food-related activities, particularly animal feed production. The poultry and livestock sectors depend heavily on imported feed ingredients, making international maize supplies an important component of Morocco’s agricultural value chain.

The increase also demonstrates that Morocco’s import requirements are not determined exclusively by domestic food consumption. Agricultural production itself generates substantial demand for imported inputs, particularly cereals used in livestock farming.

This creates an additional challenge for the country’s trade balance, as international purchases must cover both direct food requirements and the needs of agricultural and industrial activities.

For the 2026-2027 marketing season, forecasts indicate that Morocco’s combined imports of soft and durum wheat could fall to approximately 4 million tonnes, representing a decline of nearly 40%. This projection reflects expectations of improved domestic availability, although actual import requirements will depend on the performance of the harvest, the level of domestic stocks and developments in consumption.

Import diversification remains part of Morocco’s food security strategy

The increase in Canadian durum wheat purchases highlights the importance of international trade in Morocco’s approach to food security. Rather than relying exclusively on domestic agricultural production, the country needs a procurement strategy capable of combining local harvests with imports from different geographical markets.

Such diversification helps reduce dependence on individual suppliers and provides greater flexibility when weather conditions, export restrictions or geopolitical developments affect international cereal availability. It also allows Moroccan importers to compare prices, quality specifications, delivery schedules and logistical conditions across competing markets.

For Canada, the expansion of shipments to Morocco represents an opportunity to strengthen its presence in a market where demand for durum wheat remains substantial. For Moroccan buyers, Canadian supplies offer an additional source of procurement at a time when domestic production cannot always guarantee sufficient quantities.

However, the increase in imports also raises questions about the cost of securing cereal supplies and their impact on the country’s external trade balance. International grain prices, freight charges and exchange-rate movements can influence the final cost of imported cereals, with potential consequences for millers, food processors and consumers.

Morocco therefore faces the dual challenge of strengthening domestic agricultural production while preserving access to competitive international supplies. Investment in irrigation, improved seed varieties, agricultural technology, water management and more resilient farming practices will remain important to reducing the vulnerability of local harvests to climate conditions.

The latest trade figures reveal a changing structure in Morocco’s cereal procurement. The sharp increase in Canadian durum wheat shipments, the contraction in soft wheat imports and the expansion of maize purchases reflect different production and consumption requirements across the agricultural sector.

With Canadian shipments accounting for a growing share of its durum wheat supplies, Morocco is strengthening its commercial relationship with one of the world’s major exporters. At the same time, the Kingdom’s broader procurement strategy continues to depend on diversified international sourcing and the capacity to adjust imports according to domestic harvest conditions. The balance between local production and foreign supplies will remain an important factor in maintaining food availability and limiting exposure to volatility in global agricultural markets.