RABAT, MOROCCO — After plummeting in the 2020-21 marketing year, wheat production in Morocco is forecast to nearly triple this year, according to a recent Global Agricultural Information Network report from the US Department of Agriculture (USDA).

The USDA projects wheat production at 7.54 million tonnes, up from 2.56 million in the previous marketing year.

“This harvest performance is mainly due to abundant rainfall during the growing season, which was 32% higher than the previous year,” the report said. “The growing regions of Chaouia, Abda, Haouz, Tadla and Sais recorded yields 44% above the 10-year average.”

Given Morocco’s increase in production, the USDA said it expects no changes to Morocco’s current customs duties for common wheat or durum wheat through Dec. 31.

Meanwhile, Moroccan wheat imports are expected to return to normal levels in 2021-22, with the USDA projecting 4.5 million tonnes being shipped in, with most of it coming from France, Ukraine and Russia.