Brown rice market in Morocco

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, the brown rice market in Morocco expanded from 9.8 thousand tons to 9.6 thousand tons, driven by public and private investments under the Green Morocco Plan. This initiative funded irrigation infrastructure and increased the cultivated area in the Gharb and Loukkos plains, directly raising domestic production and market volume.

After a sharp decline to 6.3 thousand tons in 2021, the market recovered to 8.5 thousand tons by 2023. The rebound was supported by strengthened processing capacity for brown rice and the launch of innovative products like organic brown rice and Japanese-style mochi, which broadened consumer appeal. In 2023, a significant reduction in planted area in the Loukkos and Gharb regions heightened reliance on imported brown rice to meet industrial demand, though domestic output still increased.

By 2024, brown rice imports remained vital for securing domestic supply, underscoring Morocco's strategic dependence on international markets for food security, with shipments channeled through Casablanca and sourced from a narrow base of key suppliers.

Production brown rice in Morocco

In kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 to 2020, Morocco consistently ranked 30th globally in brown rice production volume.

Top producers of brown rice, 2017-2020

World map of production of brown rice, 2017-2020

Morocco's brown rice production increased for the third consecutive year. In 2020, the country produced 10 005 tonnes of brown rice, marking a 1.5% year-over-year rise. Between 2017 and 2020, production grew by 13.9%, which translates to an average annual increase of 4.4%.

Annual dynamics of production in Morocco in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports brown rice from Morocco

Exports in kind, t

The data shows irregular changes, indicating a volatile market environment. Exports reached their lowest point in 2019 at 0.5 tonnes, then peaked in 2020 at 457.9 tonnes—a 915-fold difference. In 2020, Morocco's brown rice exports surged by 91 381.3% year-over-year. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with a 73.2% drop.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Morocco in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Morocco's brown rice exports were primarily directed toward the United Kingdom, which accounted for 99.0% of total exports in volume.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Morocco in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

The market exhibited an unstable trend throughout this period. Exports bottomed in 2019 at 1.1 thousand US dollars, then peaked in 2020 at 272.2 thousand US dollars—a 253-fold difference. In 2020, the value of Morocco's brown rice exports sharply increased by 25 170.7% year-over-year. The largest decline was recorded in 2019, with a 62.7% decrease.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Morocco in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the United Kingdom remained the overwhelmingly dominant buyer of Moroccan brown rice, accounting for 96.9% of total exports in value terms.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Morocco in value, 2017-2020

Imports brown rice to Morocco

Imports in kind, t

Volatility characterized the market during these years. Imports hit their lowest point in 2017, then peaked in 2018 at 304.0 tonnes—a 12.1-fold variation. In 2020, Morocco imported 48.3 tonnes of brown rice, showing a robust 23.4% year-over-year increase. The largest decline occurred in 2019, with an 87.1% drop, while the largest increase was in 2018, with a 1 108.0% surge.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Morocco in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Thailand and France led the list of markets for Morocco's brown rice imports in volume, together accounting for 82.3% of total flows, with other partners playing a supplementary role.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Morocco in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

The market showed an unstable trend throughout the timeframe. Imports reached their lowest point in 2020 at 69.8 thousand US dollars, after peaking in 2018 at 251.5 thousand US dollars—a 3.6-fold gap. In 2020, the value of Morocco's brown rice imports declined by 54.9% year-over-year. The largest increase was recorded in 2018, with a 148.7% rise.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Morocco in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, the United States (38.2% of imports in value terms), Thailand (26.2%), and France (21.5%) remained the principal suppliers of brown rice to Morocco, jointly accounting for 85.9% of total imports in value terms.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Morocco in value, 2017-2020