Morocco to zero import duty for Russian wheat in November

RABAT, Oct 4 (PRIME) -- Morocco will zero its 135% duty on imports of Russian wheat in November, Russian Agriculture Minister Dmitry Patrushev told reporters on Thursday following a meeting of the intergovernmental commission of the two countries.

“During the negotiations, we reached an agreement that the duty on wheat, which stands at 135% now, will be zeroed in November of this year. This will definitely improve the interest of Russian companies in working at the Moroccan market,” he said, adding that it was too early to forecast any increases of exports.

“We saw peak exports of Russian grain to Morocco in 2016, when we exported 735,000 tonnes of grain worth more than $116 million. The Russian side would definitely want to restore the level in a very short term with prospects of future growth,” he said.

In 2017, Russia’s exports of wheat to Morocco amounted to 282,770 tonnes worth $47.38 million.

Patrushev also said that Russia’s combined exports of agricultural products may amount to U.S. $23 billion in 2018 and grow to $24 billion in 2019, to $25 billion in 2020, and to $28 billion in 2021 under favorable economic conditions.

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