Morocco has again cut soft and durum wheat import tariffs in a bid to keep domestic prices down ahead of higher imports, a government official said.

'The decision on the cut in wheat import tariffs was taken by the authorities and an executive order will be endorsed by a cabinet meeting yesterday, June 27),' a government official said.

The official declined to detail the cuts but traders said they believed the government had decided to lower soft wheat imports tariffs to 30 per cent from 40.

'We had learnt that the soft wheat import tariffs will be lowered to to 30 per cent but we have no idea about the new level of durum wheat import tariffs,' a leading trader said.

In February, the government slashed soft wheat tariffs to 60 per cent from 130 per cent but kept durum wheat tariffs unchanged at 95 per cent.

It then cut soft and durum wheat imports tariffs to 40 per cent and 55 per cent respectively early this month.

Morocco, one of North Africa's main state grains importers, is expected to triple its soft wheat imports to 3.0 million tonnes for the 2007/08 period versus the previous period to offset a shortfall in the domestic crop, according to local industry estimates.

Its hard wheat imports are due to remain unchanged at 600,000 tonnes, according to the estimates.

The government expects drought to slash the cereals harvest to 2.0 million tonnes this year from 9.3 million - the highest in 10 years.Reuters