Morocco to import 100,000 sheep from Australia to meet domestic meat demand

MOROCCO – The government of Morocco recently announced plans to import 100,000 sheep from Australia as part of a new trade agreement to stabilise the country’s red meat supply.

Officials say the move is in response to dwindling livestock numbers and rising meat prices, ensuring sufficient availability for consumers, particularly ahead of Eid Al-Adha.

Over the past six years, Morocco’s livestock sector has suffered significant setbacks due to persistent drought, severely impacting pastureland and increasing animal feed costs.

According to official data, the national cattle and sheep population has declined by 38% since 2016, leading to a sharp drop in meat production. The resulting supply shortages have pushed prices higher, prompting authorities to seek alternative sources to meet demand.

Morocco has one of the highest per capita red meat consumption rates in Africa, averaging 17 kilograms per year. 

However, with local production struggling, the government has introduced several measures to boost supply, including tax exemptions and subsidies for meat imports.

In 2023, authorities removed import duties and value-added tax (VAT) on sheep shipments from Europe. To further incentivise imports, a US$50 per sheep subsidy was introduced.

This strategy has led to increased imports from multiple countries. Since the beginning of 2025, Morocco has imported 124,000 sheep, 21,800 cattle, and 704 tons of red meat.

Expanding Import Markets

Morocco has been actively securing meat imports from different regions to diversify supply sources. In February 2023, the country imported 30,000 cattle from Brazil and Uruguay. Later that year, the National Food Safety Office (ONSSA) approved sheep and goat meat imports from Argentina.

More recently, Moroccan officials and importers visited Western Australia to finalise the latest livestock agreement. Mark Harvey-Sutton, head of the Australian Livestock Exporters Council, confirmed that all necessary paperwork has been completed, and the first shipments are ready for transport.

Meanwhile, Paraguay is looking to expand its beef exports to Morocco. The South American country currently supplies around 4,500 tons of beef annually and aims to double that figure in the coming year. 

Paraguayan meat exporters have already engaged in discussions with Moroccan buyers to facilitate increased shipments, according to Mecro Press.

Morocco’s reliance on meat imports underscores the ongoing challenges posed by climate change and prolonged drought conditions, which have disrupted agriculture for six consecutive years.

While the country’s total meat exports in 2023 were valued at approximately US$1.91 million, poultry remains the dominant export. Morocco shipped poultry products worth US$5.73 million to markets including Oman, Benin, Liberia, Ghana, and Guinea.

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