Wheat
Tightening stocks, rain delays are factors in increase for wheat imports.
 
WASHINGTON, D.C., U.S. — Tightening stocks have led the Foreign Agricultural Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture to raise its estimate for wheat imports in Morocco from 5 million tonnes to 5.5 million tonnes, according to a Global Agricultural Information Network (GAIN) report filed Jan. 19.

As of Jan. 1, Morocco estimated its total stock of common wheat at 150,000 tonnes, durum wheat at 60,000 tonnes, and barley at 100,000 tonnes. Those totals only are expected to be able to cover domestic demand through the end of February, the FAS said. As a result, imports are expected to increase.

The FAS also indicated that the 2017-18 marketing year got off to a late start due to rain delays, with some areas not able to finish sowing until the end of December. According to the Ministry of Agriculture’s latest estimate, total area planted to cereals in Morocco in the 2017 marketing year as of Jan. 15 was estimated at 4.8 million hectares.