Morocco is a natural market for Egyptian faba beans (dried broad beans, HS 0713.50). Faba is central to Moroccan cuisine — above all bissara, the national broad-bean soup — and domestic supply does not always meet demand. Egypt is recognised among the world’s top-five exporters of dried broad beans, offering graded, food-grade faba for Moroccan importers, millers and processors. This guide covers grades, logistics, ONSSA requirements, crop calendar and pricing.

Quick Answer

Morocco imports faba beans for bissara and everyday cooking. Egypt is a recognised top-five global exporter of dried broad beans (HS 0713.50). Grades: large-seeded whole, small-seeded, and split/decorticated. Dried faba ships in 25/50 kg bags in dry containers (no reefer needed), transit ~7–12 days by sea to Casablanca/Tanger Med. Imports require ONSSA clearance, a phytosanitary certificate and MRL compliance.

Why Morocco Imports Egyptian Faba Beans

Faba beans are a dietary staple across the Maghreb, and Morocco’s own crop is seasonal and variable. Importing complements domestic supply and stabilises availability for the year-round bissara, stew and snack trade. Egypt is a competitive origin: a recognised major exporter of dried broad beans with the grading, drying and bagging infrastructure to supply food-grade faba at consistent quality, shipped economically as a dry commodity.

Market snapshotDetail
Use in marketBissara, stews, snacks, milling
HS code0713.50 (dried broad & horse beans)
Main entry portsCasablanca, Tanger Med
Transit time7–12 days by sea (dry container)
Packaging25 / 50 kg PP bags
GradesLarge whole, small-seeded, split/decorticated

Grades & Specifications

Large-seeded whole faba: premium, uniform size for ful-style and whole-bean dishes. Small-seeded faba: the traditional type used widely in Maghreb cooking. Split/decorticated (skinless): for bissara and quick-cooking applications. Specifications cover moisture (typically ≤13%), purity/admixture, sizing and defect tolerance. Buyers specify whole vs split, size band and cleanliness grade; product is machine-cleaned, calibrated and colour-sorted.

Logistics & Route

Dried faba is a shelf-stable commodity shipped in standard dry containers — no cold chain required. Bags of 25 or 50 kg are palletised or floor-loaded from Alexandria/Damietta to Casablanca or Tanger Med in roughly 7–12 days. Product must be kept dry and well-ventilated to preserve moisture spec and prevent insect activity; fumigation certificates are commonly required.

Import Requirements

Moroccan imports require clearance by ONSSA (the national food-safety authority), a phytosanitary certificate from Egyptian plant quarantine, a certificate of origin and often a fumigation certificate. Pesticide residues must meet applicable MRLs. Bags carry product, origin, packer, net weight and lot in line with Moroccan labelling rules. Buyers increasingly ask for food-safety certification (e.g. ISO 22000/HACCP) at the packing facility and full lot traceability.

Crop Calendar & Availability

PeriodAvailability
April–JuneMain harvest — new-crop faba
July–DecemberPeak shipping from stored new crop
January–MarchContinuity supply from storage

As a dried pulse, faba stores well, so Egypt ships year-round from the spring harvest — letting Moroccan buyers contract volume across the calendar rather than only in-season.

Source & data: Egypt is recognised among the world’s top-five exporters of dried broad beans. Source: Tridge broad-bean trade overview, 2024. HS code 0713.50 (dried broad & horse beans, shelled). Country-level shipment volumes vary by season and are confirmed at contracting; no per-market figure is asserted here.

PEI Trade — New Cairo, Egypt. Request a quote or faba bean spec sheet →