Assahafa.com
Morocco has put in place a rebate mechanism for imports of milling soft wheat covering the period from January to April, according to a circular issued by the National Interprofessional Office for Cereals and Legumes (ONICL).
The measure seeks to secure domestic supply and contain price pressures amid ongoing volatility on international grain markets.
The scheme stems from a joint decision by the ministries of economy and finance and agriculture, and is formalized in an ONICL circular dated December 31, 2025.
It applies to wheat shipments imported between January 1 and April 30, during which eligible operators may receive state support in the form of a flat-rate premium.
The rebate concerns only quantities of milling soft wheat imported during this period by authorized storage entities, including cereal traders, Moroccan agricultural cooperatives and their union, as well as industrial flour mills.
Eligibility depends on the submission of a bill of lading confirming that the shipment was loaded between January 1 and April 30. In cases of duly recognized force majeure, cargoes loaded after this deadline may still qualify for the rate applicable in April.
The premium is calculated on a monthly basis and corresponds to the difference between an “average landed cost at port exit” and a reference price set at MAD 270 ($29.56) per quintal.
The average landed cost is determined using import costs based on FOB prices and freight rates for the two least expensive origins among Germany, Argentina, France, and the US.
Specific smoothing rules apply when the price gap between the two selected origins exceeds a defined threshold.
Additional elements include handling and approach costs, as well as a fixed margin of MAD 22.5 ($2.46) per quintal.
The daily data used for these calculations are sourced from FranceAgriMer and the International Grains Council, in line with the circular’s annex.
An interministerial commission will meet before the third working day of each month to set the unit value of the premium applicable for the following month, based on data from the previous month.
Obligations for importers
Beneficiary importers must formally commit, through a standardized annex, to delivering the imported wheat exclusively to industrial mills.
These deliveries must be declared to ONICL, with any undelivered quantities triggering reimbursement of the aid received.
Payment of the rebate is made in a single instalment per import receipt, provided a complete application file is submitted before December 31.
Required documents include the signed commitment, bill of lading, commercial invoice, import certificate, and supporting documentation. Files submitted after the deadline will be rejected unless force majeure is officially recognized, the circular insists.
It also also requires operators to pass on the state’s support effort in their selling prices to mills and on the domestic market.
ONICL will closely monitor imported and delivered quantities, notably through mandatory declarations via its electronic portal.
For the first four months of 2026, importers of milling soft wheat will therefore have access to public support whose level will vary monthly in line with international price movements, within a tightly regulated framework designed to secure supply and maintain price stability for consumers.
Source: Morocco word news
