Russian Wheat: Morocco Increases Purchases by 60% in September
Morocco Increases Wheat Imports from Russia Amid Overall Decline in Exports
In September 2026, Morocco significantly increased its wheat purchases from Russia, despite a notable decline in Russian grain exports during the same period. According to preliminary data from the Russian Grain Union (RZS), shipments destined for the Moroccan market reached approximately 58,000 tons—marking a 60% year-on-year increase.
This development sharply contrasts with the general trend of Russian exports. In September, Russia shipped only 1.36 million tons of wheat to foreign markets, a steep drop from 5.4 million tons a year earlier. Consequently, the exported volume has decreased fourfold over the past year, while the number of recipient countries has dwindled from 37 to just 12.
Morocco Among the Few Growing Markets
With around 58,000 tons, Morocco accounted for nearly 4.3% of Russia’s wheat exports recorded in September. Thus, the Kingdom is among the few destinations where Russian volumes have increased, despite the widespread slowdown in shipments.
In contrast, several major traditional markets have experienced severe declines. Deliveries to Egypt amounted to 216,600 tons, while shipments to Saudi Arabia reached 131,000 tons and those to Libya were 97,700 tons.
The drop is even more striking for Turkey. This market, which received approximately 843,700 tons of Russian wheat in September 2025, saw volumes plummet to just 36,700 tons a year later.
Increased Importance of Baltic Routes
The increase in shipments to Morocco also comes amid a rearrangement of the routes used to transport Russian grains. During the first ten days of September, approximately 30,000 tons of wheat had been loaded for Morocco, with no volumes reported for the Kingdom during the comparable period in 2025.
Some of the Moroccan shipments notably transited through Vyssotsk, a Russian port located on the Baltic Sea. The grain volumes processed by this facility have surged 9.5 times year-on-year, illustrating a gradual shift of some cargo flows towards Baltic ports.
This change occurs as constraints affecting the Azov-Black Sea basin routes reduce the capacity of traditionally favored paths for Russian grain exports.
An Increase That Requires Contextual Consideration
However, the increase in Moroccan imports of Russian wheat in September does not necessarily indicate that the overall demand in the Kingdom will rise throughout the campaign.
According to estimates from the Russian Grain Union, Morocco’s total wheat imports could decrease by approximately 3 million tons this season. This outlook is linked to the expected improvement in domestic production, estimated by Russian analysts at 7.5 million tons, compared to just 3.5 million tons during the previous campaign.
Thus, the Moroccan market may require less imported wheat this season, although some origins could continue to gain ground on the remaining volumes that need to be covered.
Intensified Competition Among Suppliers
In this context, the rise in Russian wheat purchases in September is seen more as an indicator of competition among origins than as a sign of a sustainable increase in Moroccan imports.
The improvement in domestic harvests could reduce the Kingdom’s overall needs, forcing foreign suppliers to compete for potentially more limited demand. Nevertheless, Russia appears to have maintained a foothold in the Moroccan market in September, even as its global wheat exports experienced a particularly sharp decline.
The developments in the coming months will determine whether this upward trend is a temporary spike or signals a more lasting strengthening of the presence of Russian wheat in the Moroccan market.
