Egg Prices Soar in Morocco’s Capital, Sparking Consumer Concerns

The surge in prices of basic necessities is a concern for consumer protection associations in a context of high inflation. In this case, these NGOs express concerns about the rise in egg prices, even though Morocco had an annual production of around 7 billion units and had achieved self-sufficiency in this product. The insufficient profit margin for poultry farmers who have reduced their egg production due to the increase in the cost of raw materials and transportation could explain this price increase, said Ahmed Bioud, founder of the association "With Consumers", to Hespress.

Professionals in the sector set prices at their discretion, much to the dismay of consumers. This situation could have repercussions on other food products made with eggs, warned Tarek Bakhti, president of the Moroccan Consumer Forum, noting an imbalance between supply and demand, exacerbated by donations of eggs to earthquake victims. Similarly, the export to Europe and Africa of this product also contributes to the rise in prices, detailed Bakhti, stressing the urgency of finding a solution to this situation that affects the purchasing power of Moroccans.

For Hicham Dardali, a professional in the sector, the players are aware of the impact of this unprecedented price increase in Morocco. But it is justified by the increase in the cost of raw materials and transportation, which has led several poultry farms to close their doors. Hicham Dardali has called on the government to take measures to relieve producers, in particular the exemption from VAT on raw materials. Despite this increase, egg prices are reasonable compared to those practiced in some neighboring countries, he assures, recalling that the farm price is 1.32 dirhams.