Browse Data and Analysis

Morocco continues to import agricultural products derived from genetically engineered (GE) technologies for use in animal feed products. No GE products have been developed or commercialized for local production in Morocco. GE products are not allowed for human consumption.

Access to the benefits of modern agricultural biotechnology in the Caribbean Basin remains stifled by the unfinished work of implementing a science-based, risk-management approach to regulate its use.

In the Caribbean region, sales value in the retail grocery sector increased by 3 percent in 2023. This is due in part to the rise in tourism in many markets, which is boosting economic growth. The largest grocery retail markets are Trinidad and Tobago, Guadeloupe, and the Bahamas.

The Government of Morocco has released its final wheat and barley production numbers for the 2024 crop, including 1.77 MMT of common wheat, 0.70 MMT of durum wheat, and 0.65 MMT of barley, about 43 percent down from the previous year’s crop.

Central Asia is a diverse, important corner of the world and a growing market for U.S. goods. Agricultural imports from the world for Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, and Uzbekistan totaled $11.6 billion in 2023 and have nearly doubled over the last three years, with the United States as the 11th largest trade partner at $196 million.

Morocco notified WTO G/SPS/N/MAR/106 on August 7, 2024. The notification concerns animal feed additives registration. Comments are due October 6, 2024.

In 2023, Morocco was the second-largest export market for U.S. agriculture on the African continent, importing over $610 million in U.S. agricultural products, accounting for over 16 percent of all U.S. exports to Africa. The United States has seen total exports quadruple and agricultural exports double since entering into a free-trade agreement (FTA) with Morocco in 2006.

On July 11, 2024, the government of Morocco adopted Order No. 2-23-557 dated May 14, 2024, establishing standards for the quality, health safety, and labeling of animal feed production. An unofficial translation is included in this report.

The government of Morocco has issued a new code of procedures for the importation of animal meal, which previously had no established framework. This regulation now permits the use of animal meal in dog and cat food, opening opportunities for broader applications of rendered products in other animal feeds.

As tourists flock back to the Caribbean in larger numbers and island economies regain their footing after being challenged by global inflation, competition, and other headwinds, opportunities for U.S. suppliers are slowly emerging. While hurdles remain present on the horizon, U.S. suppliers are finding resilient Caribbean buyers to be excellent partners on the road to commercial success.

Morocco is facing low wheat production in marketing year 2024/25 due to drought. The Ministry of Agriculture forecasts total wheat and barley production at 3.12 million metric tons, about 43 percent down from the previous year’s crop. In response to low production and rising wheat prices globally, the government of Morocco continues to support bread wheat imports based on a fixed flat-rate payment through June 30, 2024.

Post production forecasts for tangerines/mandarins, oranges, lemons, and orange juice remain unchanged from the December 20 Annual Citrus Report. MY 2023/24 export figures are revised based on trade data received from Morocco’s office des changes.