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Opportunities for U.S. Agricultural Products in MoroccoIn 2023, Morocco was the second-largest export market for U.S. agriculture on the African continent, importing over $610 million in U.S. agricultural products, accounting for over 16 percent of all U.S. exports to Africa. The United States has seen total exports quadruple and agricultural exports double since entering into a free-trade agreement (FTA) with Morocco in 2006.1 The United States-Morocco FTA (USMFTA) is the only U.S. FTA on the African continent. It provides reliable market access and transshipment opportunities to use Morocco to reach other African countries. The United States was Morocco’s third-largest agricultural product supplier in 2023 and has historically been in the top five. Morocco is a net importer of agricultural products and predominantly imports bulk commodities and raw materials from the United States, although opportunities for intermediate and consumer-oriented products exist because of Morocco’s robust food processing sector and expanding consumer demand. Please click here to read more >> |
The following GAIN reports were released on August 14, 2024.
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Australia: Grain and Feed Update
A tale of two is emerging for wheat and barley growers in Australia. Those in the eastern states have entered the MY 2024/25 planting season with good soil moisture and a particularly good fall break with widespread rains in the first week of April. Growers in Western Australia and South Australia have low soil moisture and are yet to receive any meaningful fall rains, with little expectation of rain in the coming weeks. FAS/Canberra forecasts a decline in wheat planted area and yield to dip below average with production at three percent below average. For barley, FAS/Canberra forecasts an increase in planted area but a fall in yield and a small decline in production from the prior year. Sorghum production is forecast to increase slightly in MY 2024/25 and exports are forecast to bounce back after the MY 2023/24 crop was adversely impacted by the widespread rains at harvest. MY 2024/25 is forecast for another strong year of rice production associated with an expectation of ample water availability.
Indonesia: Indonesian Quarantine Agency Notifies WTO on Requirements to Submit Prior Notice for the Export of All Agricultural Commodities
On July 4, 2024, the Indonesian Quarantine Agency (IQA) notified the World Trade Organization (WTO) of their plans to issue a new regulation regarding Quarantine Documents and Seals under notification number G/SPS/N/IDN/149. The draft regulation has notable provisions which require that prior to a shipment’s departure from the port of embarkation, exporters of all agricultural commodities are required to submit “prior notice,” a document that includes requirements such as a Certificate of Analysis (COA) and information regarding a product’s GMO status, for every shipment. The IQA is accepting comments until September 2, 2024, and plans to provide further information in a public dissemination session close to the comment period deadline sometime in late August.
Turkiye: Turkiye Announces Tariff Quota for Sunflowerseed-Crude Sun Oil
In early August, Turkiye announced that it will open a lower-duty quota for 1.0 million metric tons of sunflower seed or crude sunflower oil equivalent, starting from January-April of next year. The reason the quota isn’t opening until that time is to protect the domestic sunflower industry from an influx of cheap imports during the upcoming harvest. In order to apply for a quota license, Turkish firms must first purchase an equivalent amount of domestic sunflower seed. The Turkish sunflower industry welcomed the domestic purchase provision, which the government hasn’t required for about a decade.
Turkiye: Seafood Products Report
Over the last couple decades, with smaller catch volumes resulting from decades of overfishing, the Turkish seafood sector pivoted and ramped up investments in aquaculture production. These investments have paid dividends with Turkiye now the world’s largest producer and exporter of seabass and seabream. Additionally, in the last few years, Turkiye has started producing and marketing Turkish salmon, which has become popular around the world. Surprisingly, even with this increase in aquaculture production, seafood consumption in Turkiye is still only one-third the world average. As eating habits change and as economic conditions improve, consumption is expected to grow, which could open new opportunities for high-value U.S. fish and seafood products.
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.
USDA Announces December Trade Mission to Morocco
WASHINGTON, Aug. 14, 2024 — U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs Alexis M. Taylor will lead an agribusiness trade mission to Casablanca, Morocco, Dec. 2-5, 2024. Current and potential U.S. exporters interested in participating should apply for consideration by Aug. 28.
“This mission presents a pivotal opportunity for U.S. agribusinesses to tap into Morocco’s dynamic market and leverage its strategic position for wider African access,” Taylor said. “We are committed to facilitating these vital connections and expanding U.S. agricultural exports.”
Morocco is the second-largest export market for U.S. agriculture in Africa. U.S. sales of farm and food products to the country topped $619 million last year, representing 16 percent of the continent’s market share. American agricultural exports to Morocco have doubled since the U.S.-Morocco Free Trade Agreement entered into force in 2006.
Morocco offers a stable market and growing economy and serves as a key distribution hub for the African continent. The country is already a major importer of bulk and intermediate commodities from the United States and its expanding food processing sector and rising consumer demand are creating new potential for sales of consumer-oriented products.
U.S. exporters have opportunities in numerous sectors, including beef and beef products, dairy products, feed grains, live animals and genetics, rice, seafood, seed potatoes, soybeans and tree nuts.
During the trade mission, representatives from U.S. companies will participate in business-to-business meetings with potential importers from Morocco, Senegal, Côte d'Ivoire and other West African nations. Participants will also receive in-depth market briefings USDA Foreign Agricultural Service staff and other regional trade experts.
To learn more about the trade mission and to apply to participate, please visit: https://fas.usda.gov/topics/
USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
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USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.
The following GAIN reports were released on August 15, 2024.
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Canada: Simultaneous Railway Strikes Could Begin August 22
On August 9, 2024, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) announced its ruling that work stoppage due to strike or lockout, from Canada’s two major railway companies, Canadian National (CN) Railway and Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited (CPKC), would not present a threat to public health and safety. With this announcement, if a negotiated settlement cannot be completed, CN and CPKC are cleared to strike as early as August 22, after a 13-day cooling period mandated by CIRB. Both CN and CPKC have stated their intention to initiate an employee lockout if no contract settlement or binding arbitration agreement is in place by August 22.
El Salvador: Exporter Guide Annual
In 2023, U.S. agriculture exports to El Salvador reached $860 million, a slight drop of 12 percent compared to 2022 due mainly to lower wheat and oil seeds imports. However, the consumer-oriented products category saw a promising increase from $349 million to $364 million, marking a 4.4 percent growth. The top five U.S. consumer-oriented exports to El Salvador, with a higher dollar value, were soups and other food preparations, pork and pork products, dairy products, poultry meat, and processed vegetables. Remittances are significant in the Salvadoran economy and contribute to higher purchasing power. It is estimated that approximately 30 percent of the 6.6 million Salvadorans receive them monthly, further stabilizing the economy and contributing to a higher purchasing power.
For more information, or for an archive of all FAS GAIN reports, please visit gain.fas.usda.gov/.
