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Paraguay is among the countries that aim to double down its exports of beef to the Moroccan market.
Mecro Press reported on Saturday that operators from the Paraguay meat shipments sector met with local buyers from Morocco, looking forward to sealing further deals to secure more meat exports to the North African kingdom.
Paraguay exports approximately 4,500 tons of beef to Morocco, with a primary goal to double the number in the coming year, the report added.
Morocco has been importing meat from different markets to meet local demand due to drought that directly impacts the country’s agriculture seasons for six years in a row.
Minister of Agriculture Ahmed Bouari said Morocco is facing a big drop in livestock numbers, with the national herd shrinking by 38% since 2016.
Morocco used to slaughter 230,000 cattle, but the number is now down to 150,000. To tackle the situation, the country turned to importing cattle or meat from different markets, including Romania and Argentina.
Converging reports further suggest Morocco is also considering to soon start importing sheep from Australia to ready itself for Eid al Adha.
Morocco’s import bill stood at MAD 4.8 billion, showing an 83% increase from the same period in 2023.
By the end of November last year, Morocco’s livestock imports grew to 110,000 tonnes without the value-added tax (VAT) and customs duties, compared to 60,000 in 2023.
During the last Eid al-Adha, Morocco shipped in around 600,000 sheep destined for sacrifice from Spain and Romania.
