Morocco's state grains agency ONICL has issued a tender to import 350,000 tonnes of European Union soft wheat, European traders said on Monday. Bidding deadline is Wednesday (August 8). Shipment date was not specified but was thought to be between October 2007 to March 2008.
Some 200,000 tonnes was for shipment to Casablanca and 150,000 tonnes to other ports. Morocco has been a heavy buyer in international markets in recent weeks following a poor domestic grains harvest and traders had expected a new tender. In its previous import tenders on July 19, the country approved the import of a massive 542,000 tonnes of US and EU wheat.
Morocco is likely to triple its imports of soft wheat to 3 million tonnes in the 2007/08 season after a severe drought cut its 2007 cereals crop to around 2 million tonnes from 9.3 million in the 2006 season, according to official estimates.
Morocco does not purchase wheat directly but seeks bids from exporters willing to pay higher import duties for the right to sell in its domestic market. On August 2, Morocco said it was suspending customs duties and taxes on cereals imports to protect consumers against rising international prices. But it also said it would shortly tender for soft wheat to meet demand from October 2007 to March 2008.