Eight wheat ships wait off Casablanca as Morocco port congestion continues

Logistical congestion continues at Morocco's ports, with eight anchored ships carrying soft wheat still waiting for berths offshore Casablanca for berths, according to Inspection Control Union Maroc's June 1 port position report.

At berth, one ship from Dunkirk, France, was unloading 33,000 metric tons of soft wheat, with 24,950.774 mt still on board, according to the report. Another ship berthed June 1, carrying 36,122 mt of soft wheat and barley from the French port of Rouen. Both ships arrived April 29.

Offshore, the anchorage list pointed to continued pressure from incoming grain cargoes. Excluding one ship carrying a mixed durum wheat and soft wheat cargo, eight loaded solely with soft wheat were still awaiting berth, with one shipment split into two consignee parcels. The cargoes originated from Rouen and La Pallice, also in France; Mukran, Germany; Vysotsk, Russia; and Montreal. The broader port report also showed other agricultural commodities either at berth or at anchorage, including feed wheat, barley, maize, soybean meal, sunflower meal, sugar and vegetable oils, indicating that demand on port infrastructure remains heavy beyond the soft wheat trade.

Casablanca, which accounts for 60% of Morocco's imports, according to data from Morocco's National Federation of Grain and Legume Traders, is experiencing significant port congestion at its discharge facilities. Severe winter weather temporarily disrupted port operations, leading to a backlog that has become increasingly difficult to clear. This congestion underscores the limitations of processing capacity amid ongoing import volumes, a trader said.

According to a member of the traders group, or FNCL, the logistical challenge at Casablanca port has led to a delay in ships berthing with importers incurring huge demurrage.

"And today, we have a congestion that means that a vessel that will come to Morocco should know that it has to wait from 20 to 30 days before berthing," the trader said.

Platts, part of S&P Global Energy, assessed wheat 11% FOB EU Rouen and CPT Rouen for the June period at Eur200.25/mt and Eur198.50/mt, respectively, June 1.