Morocco will lift its pause on soft wheat purchases and restart imports on September 16, according to a notice published by the nation's grain office, ONICL. The decision reverses a suspension that began in June when authorities prioritized distribution of the domestic harvest.
ONICL's notice states that the government will support imported soft wheat with a subsidy program running from September 16 through December 31. The scheme is designed to cover the shortfall between a fixed reference price and the prevailing market cost of imported wheat.
Specifically, the subsidy will make up the difference between a reference price set at 270 dirhams per quintal - equivalent to $291.52 per metric ton - and the actual import cost. The calculation of import cost will be tied to market prices for wheat originating from France, Germany, Argentina and the United States, the notice said.
Morocco had halted wheat imports in June to give precedence to local production, which the notice noted recovered in 2026 after several years of drought. The return to imports comes with a limited subsidy window that runs until the end of the calendar year.
Trade implications are clear in ONICL's announcement: Morocco is an important destination for external suppliers. The notice reiterates the country's position as the largest export market for European Union wheat, a status that links Morocco's procurement decisions directly to EU grain flows.
By tying subsidy payments to market prices for specific origins, the mechanism will adjust support according to movements in the international market for French, German, Argentine and U.S. wheat. The subsidy timetable and pricing method are explicit in the ONICL notice and define the operational parameters for importers and exporters over the coming months.
While the notice sets out the dates and calculation method for support, it does not provide further operational detail beyond the reference price, the eligible origins, and the subsidy period. Market participants and supply-chain actors will be able to reference ONICL's published notice for the official terms as Morocco reopens to soft wheat imports on September 16.