The Moroccan markets under pressure due to rising prices

According to the president of the Casablanca Wholesale Merchants Association, cited by Hespress, prices have particularly soared during the first week of the holy month. While a slight lull has been observed recently, products such as onions are still experiencing significant fluctuations.

Wholesale prices are far from reflecting the reality experienced by the final consumer. Large retailers often offer these commodities at doubled, tripled or even quadrupled prices, a situation exacerbated by the law on price liberalization which has considerably weakened the role of regulatory bodies.

The imbalance in the domestic market is also explained by the massive orientation of production in the Souss region towards the international market. Tomatoes, peppers, courgettes and aubergines are in high demand in European, African and Middle Eastern markets, mechanically reducing the national supply.

To this commercial pressure are added the recent bad weather. Floods and torrential rains have severely damaged underground crops such as potatoes and carrots, while destroying a significant portion of the onion stocks intended to cover the season’s needs.

On the consumer advocates’ side, the distribution chain is severely criticized. The presence of six to seven intermediaries before retail sale is denounced, causing the final bill to explode.