Morocco's state grains agency ONICL said on Friday it awarded four trading houses licences to import a total of 50,000 tonnes of US-origin durum wheat. The announcement confirms comments by local traders who said on Wednesday the wheat would be imported at $306 per tonne C&F.
The wheat, imported under the terms of a free trade agreement between Morocco and the US, is due to arrive by May 31, ONICL said. Gromic trading house was allocated a licence to import 20,000 tonnes for a reduced duty of 51 dirhams per tonne while Forafric, Bejoma and Casagrains houses won licences to import 10,000 tonnes each for reduced duty of 52 dirhams, 47 dirhams and 46 dirhams per tonne respectively, ONICL said.
ONICL tendered for 85,000 tonnes but trading houses bidded for 50,000 tonnes only. The agency does not import wheat directly but instead awards licences in competitive tenders.