Moroccan drivers storm gas stations ahead of Monday’s price hike

The exceptional influx observed on Saturday in several cities reflects the concern of transporters and individuals. Queues multiplied from the first hours of the morning, with road transport professionals and taxi drivers seeking to refuel before the application of new rates from tomorrow.

According to professional sources, the price of a liter of diesel - the most consumed fuel - should rise by 1.60 dirhams, while unleaded premium gasoline will increase by 0.86 dirhams. This increase comes after a first adjustment in early March and is expected to lead to diesel prices remaining above the 14 dirhams threshold.

This volatility is directly linked to the worsening of political and military tensions in the Middle East, described as the "Iran war". These disruptions weigh heavily on the prices of refined products on the Rotterdam Stock Exchange, the benchmark for the Moroccan market since the definitive shutdown of the country’s only refinery, Samir, in 2016.

The current trend marks a sudden reversal compared to the end of 2024, when diesel was trading below the symbolic 10 dirhams mark. Now, the Kingdom’s total dependence on imports of finished products, whose retail prices are often higher than the price of a barrel of crude oil, directly exposes consumers to the erratic fluctuations of the global situation.