Morocco sixth largest wheat importer in 2024- FAO

Morocco’s wheat imports are expected to grow to 7.5 million tons due to an adverse impact of rain deficit on domestic harvest, making the country the sixth largest importer globally, FAO reported.

Morocco’s wheat imports were only exceeded by Egypt followed by Indonesia, Turkey, China and Algeria, the FAO said in its Food Outlook report on global markets.

The report notes that Morocco accounted most of the wheat import increase in Africa, where many other countries brace for a meagre harvest.

Drought ditched Morocco’s wheat harvest forecast to a below average 2.5 million tons, down 43% from a year earlier.

The cultivated area shrunk to 2.47 million hectares, compared with 3.67 million hectares last season, the agriculture ministry said.

Late rainfall and unevenly distributed rainfall were to blame for the meagre harvest. Rainfall was 31% lower compared to an average year, the ministry said.