Drought and Rising Prices Slash Moroccan Olive Oil Production, Consumption

The situation is increasingly worrying in the sector, reports the newspaper Les Inspirations Eco, which conducted an immersion in the olive oil market in the Fez-Meknes region. According to the publication, the processing units are underutilized, due to the drop in production. The figures provided by the professionals testify to this.

"This year, production does not exceed 30% on non-irrigated land and 70% on irrigated land. In addition, we find that production in terms of liters per quintal is also decreasing, with a yield ranging from 12 to 17 liters per quintal, compared to 18 to 27 liters the previous year," they stressed.

Consequence, "several processing units in the commune of Ain Bida (Sefrou road), are underutilized, while some owners have decided to suspend their activity for this year," indicates the same source.

These various indicators are at the origin of the surge in the final product intended for consumption, explains the daily. Indeed, the price of olive oil currently exceeds 80 dirhams per liter at the source, an increase of 78% compared to last year and 100% compared to 2019. This price can reach 100 dirhams with intermediaries, it is specified.