Morocco’s corn imports from Argentina surge 133% as grain flows shift

Morocco’s imports of corn from Argentina surged 133% in the first seven months of 2026 to about 1.55 million metric tons, as disruptions to Ukrainian grain exports and extreme heat affecting European crops drive North African buyers toward alternative suppliers, Reuters reported.

Gustavo Idigoras, head of Argentina’s oilseed industry chamber and grain exporters’ center, known as CIARA-CEC, told Reuters that demand from North African countries that traditionally source grain from Ukraine has been the main driver of Argentina’s growing corn exports.

Argentina’s corn shipments to North Africa rose 45% in the first seven months of 2026 to 6.5 million tons, compared with a 15% increase in the country’s overall corn exports, according to Argentina’s statistics agency INDEC.

Morocco recorded the largest increase among North African buyers, followed by Egypt, where imports of Argentine corn rose 48% to 2.4 million tons. Algeria’s imports increased 10% to 2.4 million tons, Reuters reported.

Argentina’s corn exports are expected to reach a record 10 million tons in August and September, compared with about 3 million tons typically shipped during the two-month period.

The increase comes as Argentina completes its 2025-26 corn harvest, which is expected to reach 71.1 million tons — nearly 20% above the previous record set five years ago.

Idigoras said Argentine corn is currently competitive in both price and available volumes. He also said Argentine exporters have held meetings in recent months with several North African countries as they seek to strengthen commercial ties.

The shift in regional sourcing comes amid continuing disruptions to Ukrainian grain exports. Black Sea ports in the Odesa region, which previously handled about 90% of Ukraine’s grain exports, have been affected by strikes.

Grain shipments have also faced restrictions along the Danube, where drought and high temperatures have affected navigation and transport conditions.

The disruptions have contributed to a broader reshaping of global grain flows, increasing demand for supplies from major exporters such as Argentina.