Black Sea Grain
Morocco imported 43.6mn quintals (equivalent of 4.36mn tons) of grain since the start of the 2011/2012 grain import season in June till end-March, which is by 19.7% less than in the same period of the previous year, the state-run grains authority ONICL said on its website. Soft wheat, the main staple food in Morocco, accounted for 45% of total imports, followed by maize (35%), durum wheat (11%) and barley (9%). France topped the list of grain exporters to Morocco accounting for 41% of total imports, followed by Argentina (21%) and Brazil (13%). ONICL also reported that total wheat harvest collection in March amounted to 22.1mn quintals, of which 99.3% was soft wheat.
Overall, the volume of grain held by traders at Moroccan grain terminals increased by 3% m/m to 18.7 quintals by the end of March. ONICLE also launched two tenders for the supply of 1.9mn quintals of barley for its distribution to farmers at subsidized rates to safeguard livestock. The government earlier extended the suspension of import duties on wheat allowing tariff-free imports until April 30, 2012. Prior to that, Morocco applied an import tariff of 135% on soft wheat and 80% on durum.
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