Morocco is intensifying its commercial relations with Russia to ensure its supply of soft wheat. This collaboration takes place in a context of decline in national cereal production, aggravated by a drop in exports from the Kingdom’s traditional suppliers, notably France.
In a global grain market where climatic conditions and supply fluctuations are redefining trade relations, Morocco is banking on Russia as a strategic partner. This decision is accompanied by a desire to diversify sources of supply, essential to meet the growing needs of the national agri-food sector.
A new dynamic with Russia
The president of the Russian Union of Grain Exporters and Producers (Rusgrain Union), Edouard Zernine, has just announced that Russia plans to export around 1 million tonnes of wheat to Morocco for the current season, with a ambition to increase this volume to 1.5 million tonnes in the future. This declaration was made during the signing in Casablanca of a memorandum of understanding between the National Federation of Cereals and Legumes Traders (FNCL) and Rusgrain Union. This agreement, valid for one year, renewable, aims to facilitate exports of Russian cereals to Morocco and to consolidate an already growing commercial relationship.
Thanks to this partnership, Russia has become Morocco’s leading supplier of wheat, ahead of historic players like France. According to data from July to October, the Kingdom is now among the ten main buyers of Russian wheat, confirming the rise of Russian wheat on the Moroccan market.
Increased dependence on a changing global supply
This reorientation of Moroccan imports is largely explained by the drop in French production. France, historically the leading exporter of soft wheat to Morocco, announced a 26% reduction in its exports for the 2024-2025 campaign. Volumes shipped to the Kingdom should therefore increase from 2.8 million to 1.5 million tonnes.
Faced with these challenges, Morocco has turned to more competitive alternatives. Omar Yacoubi, president of the FNCL, emphasizes that Russian wheat offers excellent value for money, combining high standards at attractive prices. Last August, Moroccan imports from Russia reached 1.92 million quintals, compared to only 0.33 million from France.
A diversification strategy
The choice of cereal suppliers depends on harvest fluctuations in different regions of the world. It is with this in mind that Morocco has renewed its cereal import refund program and strengthened its diversification policy. In addition to Russia, the Kingdom is targeting markets including Romania, Bulgaria, Germany, Poland, Ukraine and the Baltics.
This diversification is crucial to meet a national demand of 5 to 5.5 million tonnes of soft wheat per year and to ensure the stability of supplies in the face of climatic and economic hazards.
