HIBAPRESS – Following
Wheat supply in Morocco has been facing increasing pressure recently, amid the global rise in import costs resulting from high fuel prices and disruptions in maritime transport. This has brought back to the forefront urgent questions about the impact of these changes on the level of stocks and price stability in the national market.
These developments come in the context of geopolitical tensions in the Gulf region, following the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, which has disrupted international navigation and contributed to the rise in oil prices, which has been directly reflected in the cost of shipping grain to Moroccan ports.
Price increases and state intervention
The head of the National Federation of Mills, Moulay Abdelkader Alaoui, explained that wheat prices in the international market have indeed witnessed noticeable fluctuations in recent weeks, as a result of disruptions related to fuel prices and maritime transport, pointing out that the import cost has increased by about $20 per ton, which has been reflected in the final price upon the arrival of shipments to Morocco.
Alaoui affirmed, in a statement to SNRTnews, that the price of wheat upon its arrival at national ports currently ranges between 274 and 280 dirhams per quintal, emphasizing that the state intervenes to cover the difference between the import cost and the reference price set at 270 dirhams per quintal, within the framework of the support mechanism aimed at maintaining price stability and regularly supplying mills.
He added that this mechanism allows for supporting Moroccan importers whenever international prices exceed the reference threshold, to avoid any direct impact on the domestic market.
Transport challenges and ship accumulation
The head of the National Federation of Mills pointed out that the problem is not limited to rising prices, but also includes the delay in unloading grain ships in Moroccan ports in recent months, due to climatic fluctuations and congestion in unloading operations, which has led to the accumulation of a number of ships and the need for some of them to wait for longer periods.
He explained that this situation has resulted in an increase in the fees paid to ship owners for the waiting period, which increases the financial burdens of import and deepens the cost of supply.
Reliance on national stocks and production
Regarding stocks, Alaoui confirmed that Morocco currently has a grain reserve covering about three months, considering that securing the strategic stock remains a top priority in light of the continued global geopolitical and climatic fluctuations.
Morocco relies heavily on foreign markets to meet a significant part of its grain needs, which makes the import bill very sensitive to any increase in energy or transport costs. Any increase in fuel prices is directly reflected in the cost of shipping from exporting countries to national ports, which may put pressure on the import budget and stock levels.
During the past year, Morocco imported about 6.48 million tons of wheat at a cost of 16.80 billion dirhams, compared to the import of 6.29 million tons at a cost of 17.83 billion dirhams in 2024.
As for national production, Alaoui stated that expectations indicate the possibility of achieving a harvest of between 90 and 100 million quintals of grain during the current agricultural season, including between 50 and 60 million quintals of soft wheat, which may contribute to reducing a significant part of the import bill.
In the same context, the government, within the 2026 finance law, expected that grain production in the Kingdom during the current season would reach about 70 million quintals.
Alaoui stressed at the end of his speech the need to continue taking proactive measures to ensure food security, by strengthening the strategic stock and preparing for various possible scenarios, especially in light of the continued fluctuations in international markets and the uncertainty associated with climatic conditions.
