August 8, 2012

Due to a poor growing season, Morocco's 2012-13 wheat demand is to increase.

The update featured in this month's Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and the Home Grown Cereals Authority (HGCA) Prospects publication says that while growing conditions have been generally favourable for cereal production in North Africa this year, Morocco suffered a serious drought, which means it could require an extra 1.5 million tonnes of wheat imports over the coming season.

British Cereal Export (BCE), the export arm of HGCA, which helps stimulate overseas demand for wheat grown in the UK, will be visiting Moroccan millers in October.

George Forbes, BCE Chairman, said: "Unlike the other countries in the North Africa region, Morocco has suffered a very poor growing season because crops were sown late, followed by harsh cold spells in January and February, combined with low rainfall.

"We now intend to visit Moroccan millers in Casablanca to show them our varieties which are for bread flour, as we feel there will be a big demand for exports of milling wheat over the coming months. It will also be a good opportunity to highlight uks, which is used for biscuit making."