Marruecos se convierte en el principal importador de trigo francés

Relations between Morocco and France continue to be strong, as evidenced by the various trade agreements between the two countries. In April, the Kingdom became the main importer of French wheat. This places the North African nation as the first partner outside the European Union (EU) to receive the cereal, and also makes it one of the main drivers of French exports of this resource.

In April, Morocco reportedly received 336,900 tonnes of common wheat from France. Today, Morocco is said to have imported 1.2 million tonnes from France. This is due to the 2021/2022 cereal export campaign launched by the nation, which began last July. 

After Morocco, the second largest importer of French wheat is Algeria. The North African country reportedly received 204,600 tonnes from France in April. In total, Algeria accumulates a total of 1.42 million French exports and, in addition, during the period 2020-2021, the nation received 1.57 million tonnes of common wheat.

Between July 2021 and April 2022, French soft wheat exports to non-EU countries reached a combined total of 6.38 million tonnes. Although these figures are estimates, as the European Commission says the figure is even higher, with exports of the cereal reaching 6.75 million tonnes. 

According to data from the French National Agency for Agriculture and Seafood (FranceAgrimer), the nation is expected to export a total of 9.5 million tonnes to non-EU countries during the 2021-2022 season. The country would therefore have to release at least 2.75 million tonnes of wheat internationally between May and June, which is when the season ends. This volume of exports is very high compared to previous years and this type of transaction has not taken place since the 2015-2016 season.

One of the periods where there was a significant drop in Welsh exports of this cereal was during the 2020-2021 season. Due to the current coronavirus health crisis, which was at its peak at that time, FranceAgrimer cut the volume of wheat exports to countries outside the European Union. Initially, and in the absence of the pandemic, the initial forecast was 7.75 million tonnes up to July of that year, but in the end, it was reduced to 6.6 million tonnes. It should be noted that, during this period, weather conditions were not favourable in central Europe. Therefore, the reduced volume of exports is also due to the fact that it could not be harvested and planted well.

Therefore, the quantity harvested that year was 51% below the record exports in the 2019/2020 season. This season was very successful in the Gallic nation, with FranceAgriMer confirming that France would have exported a figure of 13.46 million tonnes of common wheat.

FranceAgriMer says that, in terms of French common wheat exports for all EU members, the forecast is expected to be 7.8 million tonnes in total by the end of the annual season. The region will also export 1.4 million tonnes of barley and two million tonnes of maize.

Wheat is experiencing one of the worst moments in its history, in terms of exports. Like many other countries, Morocco is looking for alternatives to alleviate the effects of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Let us remember that, between Ukraine and Russia, the two countries are the largest exporters of wheat in the world, and between the destruction being experienced in Ukraine and the Western blockade of all types of Russian exports, the wheat market is paralysed and other countries do not have the same quantity as Russia and Ukraine to supply the planet.