Casablanca – As 2025 draws to a close, Morocco is approaching the final stage of an extensive cattle import program designed to safeguard domestic supplies of red meat and contain price volatility in a context marked by drought, climate stress, and international market disruptions. Sector data indicate that total cattle imports for the year are expected to reach approximately 280,000 head, placing the country close to the 300,000-head ceiling set by the government under an import duty and tax exemption scheme.

This import drive forms part of a broader set of measures adopted by public authorities to respond to persistent pressure on the national livestock sector. Prolonged drought conditions, rising feed costs, and declining local herd numbers have weakened domestic production capacity, increasing reliance on external sources to meet consumption needs, particularly during periods of high demand.

Imports near the government-set ceiling

According to professional sources operating in the livestock import sector, Moroccan importers are currently preparing to receive the final batches of cattle scheduled for delivery before the end of the year. These shipments are expected to bring total imports close to the government-approved quota, which benefits from exemptions from customs duties and value-added tax.

Earlier in the year, the authorities had set lower thresholds for cattle imports, initially authorizing 120,000 head before raising the ceiling to 150,000, and later extending it further to 300,000 head. This progressive adjustment reflected official recognition that initial volumes were insufficient to meet national demand under prevailing conditions.

By mid-2025, import volumes had already reached levels close to the earlier ceilings, prompting market operators to call for additional measures to avoid supply shortfalls. With only a few thousand head remaining under the authorized quota in recent weeks, the current import program is now nearing full execution.

Shift toward Latin American suppliers

A notable feature of Morocco’s cattle import strategy in 2025 has been a decisive shift away from European markets in favor of Latin America, particularly Brazil, which has become the country’s primary supplier. Paraguay has also contributed smaller volumes.

Sector professionals report that imports from Europe have been almost entirely suspended for several months. This shift has been driven by a combination of economic and sanitary factors. On the cost side, European cattle prices have risen sharply, reducing their competitiveness compared with Latin American suppliers. On the health front, outbreaks of infectious animal diseases in several European countries have increased perceived risks.

In recent weeks, the appearance of lumpy skin disease affecting cattle in France has reinforced this trend. Sector sources consider that this development is likely to further consolidate Morocco’s reliance on Latin American markets, which are viewed as offering greater price stability and more predictable sanitary conditions.

Market impact and price stability

Despite ongoing challenges facing the livestock sector, professionals report that meat prices at major slaughterhouses have remained relatively stable in recent months. This stability is widely attributed to the sustained pace of cattle imports, which has helped offset reduced domestic supply and ease pressure on wholesale markets.

However, market actors caution that this balance remains fragile. Any interruption in imports, particularly in the absence of a rapid recovery in local livestock numbers, could translate into renewed upward pressure on prices. This risk is heightened during peak consumption periods, including religious holidays and festive seasons.

Climate-related factors continue to weigh heavily on the sector. Recurrent droughts and water scarcity have reduced pasture availability, increased feed costs, and constrained herd renewal, creating structural vulnerabilities that cannot be resolved solely through imports.

European protests and sanitary concerns

The health situation in parts of Europe has also had indirect repercussions on Morocco’s sourcing decisions. In France, measures adopted to contain lumpy skin disease — including the culling of infected animals — have triggered widespread protests by farmers and livestock breeders. These demonstrations have led to road and rail blockades, as well as the temporary closure of public facilities using heavy agricultural machinery.

For Moroccan importers, such disruptions further reduce the attractiveness of European supply chains, reinforcing the preference for alternative markets perceived as less exposed to sudden regulatory or sanitary shocks.

Outlook for 2026

Looking ahead, the government has opted to maintain a proactive stance. Under the 2026 Finance Law, authorities have decided to extend customs duty and VAT exemptions for an annual quota of 300,000 head of cattle, alongside 10,000 camels. The stated objective is to prevent any supply gaps in the red meat market next year and to limit the risk of price increases.

While these measures are expected to provide short-term relief, experts emphasize that long-term stability will depend on reviving domestic livestock production through improved water management, feed availability, and support for breeders. Until such structural issues are addressed, imports are likely to remain a central pillar of Morocco’s strategy to secure its red meat supply.

In the meantime, the near completion of the 2025 cattle imports program marks one of the largest such operations undertaken by the country, underscoring the scale of the challenges facing the sector and the growing importance of external sourcing in maintaining market equilibrium.