African Continent Prepares for Record Wheat Imports in 2024/2025
The African continent is gearing up for a new year of record wheat imports, with a total projected volume of 55.6 million tonnes for the 2024/2025 period, according to a report by the FAO published on June 13. This trend is driven by two major players: Morocco and Egypt.
Morocco's Wheat Imports to Rise by 19%
Morocco is expected to import 7.5 million tonnes of wheat, a 19% increase compared to the previous year. This surge is due to a significant decline in national production, which is expected to drop by nearly 40%.
The harvest, estimated at only 2.5 million tonnes, is expected to be significantly lower than the average of previous years. This decrease is attributed to a rainfall deficit and high temperatures that severely impacted cereal production.
Egypt's Wheat Imports to Increase by 1.6%
Egypt, the world's largest wheat importer, plans to increase its purchases by 1.6%, reaching 12.2 million tonnes. This increase is driven by growing demand from the population and a depreciation of the local currency, making imports more expensive.