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The heads of the National Union of Grain and Legume Traders and the National Federation of Millers in Morocco said on Thursday that the country will keep the customs duties imposed on soft wheat until August 31, effectively extending the halt of imports aimed at protecting the local crop.

The authorities imposed 170% customs duties on soft wheat imports from June 1 to July 31 to limit imports and prioritize marketing of the local crop.

Moulay Abdelkader Al-Alawi, head of the National Federation of Millers, and Omar Al-Yaacoubi, head of the National Union of Grain and Legume Traders, said that the extension of this measure for an additional month was due to the slow pace of collecting the local crop, according to Reuters.

Morocco, one of the world's largest wheat importers, expects to double grain production including soft wheat to reach nine million tons this season.

However, Al-Alawi said that the quantities collected so far have not exceeded 500,000 tons, a level far below the target of at least 1.5 million tons by the end of July, noting that many farmers are keeping wheat for their own use.

Industry specialists told Reuters in June that harvesting operations were also affected by labor shortages, outdated equipment, and prolonged rainfall.

Delay in crop collection

Al-Alawi warned that the continued delay in crop collection and failure to resume subsidies on wheat imports could mean that Morocco will face supply problems in the coming months amid rising prices in global markets, noting that existing stocks are enough to cover the country's needs for up to three months.

He added that traders are awaiting a government decision on subsidies for wheat imports to enable them to obtain supplies for September, warning that delay will exacerbate the scarcity of supply.

According to data from the National Union of Grain and Legume Traders, France's share among countries exporting soft wheat to Morocco from its imports of 5.1 million tons during the past season spanning from June 2025 to May 31 this year was 70% alone, followed by Argentina, Russia, and Germany.

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