Morocco’s 2025 wheat crop below 10-year average despite heavy March rains

The USDA FAS report projects that Morocco's 2025 wheat crop will be below the 10-year average despite light rainfall in March due to hot and dry weather early in the growing season and a reduced planted area. The country's 2025/26 wheat production is estimated at 3.4 MMT, with Morocco expected to import 7.3 MMT of wheat and 0.9 MMT of barley to meet domestic demand. The report also notes a decrease in feed consumption due to drought-induced reductions in livestock numbers, with total barley consumption forecasted at 1.6 MMT. Morocco has diversified its wheat suppliers, with Russia becoming a significant supplier in 2024/25. The cancellation of Eid Al-Adha celebrations due to repeated droughts is expected to further impact barley imports and feed consumption.

Despite significant rainfall in March, Morocco’s 2025 wheat crop is expected to remain below the 10-year average, according to a recent report by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Foreign Agricultural Service (USDA FAS). While production is forecast to be slightly higher than the drought-affected levels of 2024, hot and dry weather early in the growing season, coupled with a reduced planted area, will limit overall wheat output. «Crops planted earlier in the season appear considerably weaker and are expected to yield well below average due to prolonged dry conditions from December through February», the report explains. However, crops sown later in the season «are showing more promising conditions», thanks to improved soil moisture following the heavy March rains. The report, released on March 31, estimates Morocco’s 2025/26 wheat production at 1.7 million metric tons (MMT) for common wheat, 1.1 MMT for durum wheat, and 700,000 metric tons (MT) for barley. Although slightly ...