Casablanca – A recent report from the Foreign Agricultural Service (FAS) of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) revealed that Morocco imported approximately 7.5 million tons of wheat by the end of February 2025. This shift reflects a growing dependence on wheat from Russia and Ukraine, as French supply continues to decline due to production constraints.
Morocco’s wheat demand and changing suppliers
According to the USDA report titled “Grains: World Markets and Trade,” Morocco’s wheat consumption reached 10 million tons during the same period. The country has traditionally relied on France as a key supplier, but supply shortages have pushed Morocco to diversify its imports.
As a result, Russia has strengthened its position as Morocco’s primary wheat provider. Russian agricultural authorities expect that wheat exports to Morocco will reach 7.5 million tons this season. Meanwhile, European Union (EU) wheat exports to Morocco are projected to decline sharply, with estimates falling to 2.7 million tons—the lowest level since the 2018/2019 agricultural season.
Broader grain imports on the rise
In addition to wheat, Morocco has significantly increased its overall grain imports. The report shows that from January to February 2025, Morocco imported:
- 3.46 million tons of animal feed
- 2.7 million tons of corn
- 750,000 tons of barley, representing nearly one-third of the country’s total annual barley consumption of 2.2 million tons
This growing demand highlights Morocco’s efforts to secure stable grain supplies amid global market fluctuations.
Challenges in Russian wheat shipments
Despite the rise in Russian wheat exports, concerns have emerged regarding the quality of shipments. The Russian Federal Service for Veterinary and Phytosanitary Surveillance (Rosselkhoznadzor) recently detected contaminants in a batch of wheat from Russia’s Chelyabinsk region bound for Morocco. The wheat contained harmful weed seeds, including field bindweed and blue foxtail, which pose potential risks to Morocco’s agriculture.
This is not the first such incident—Russian authorities issued 83 warnings in 2023 regarding potential contamination risks in wheat shipments. While these issues raise agricultural safety concerns, Morocco’s wheat imports from Russia have continued uninterrupted.
Strengthening trade ties between Morocco and Russia
Despite these challenges, Morocco is deepening its trade relationship with Russia. In November 2024, both countries signed a trade agreement aimed at facilitating Russian wheat exports to Morocco.
Under this agreement, Russia plans to increase its wheat exports to Morocco by an additional 1.5 million tons in the coming months, reflecting Morocco’s rising demand and continued trade cooperation between the two nations.
The USDA report underscores Morocco’s shifting wheat import strategy, driven by supply shortages in France and the increasing competitiveness of Black Sea wheat. While concerns persist regarding the quality of some Russian shipments, Morocco’s reliance on Russia and Ukraine is expected to grow as the country works to ensure food security and stable grain supplies.
