Olive oil: good news for Moroccans

“ The price of a litre of olive oil will not exceed 52 dirhams,” provided climatic conditions are favorable, said Rachid Benali, president of the Moroccan Interprofessional Olive Federation (INTERPROLIVE), contacted by Assahra Al Maghribia. According to estimates, the price of a litre of olive oil should fall to 50 dirhams in cities such as Tazrout (Tata), Moulay Yacoub and Ouezzane. “A kilo of olives will be traded for between 5 and 6 dirhams, with productivity ranging from 5 to 15 tonnes per hectare,” a producer specifies.

To read: Morocco: towards a (historic) drop in olive oil prices

This season is “unprecedented,” according to Hamid Sabri, president of the Moroccan Association of Olive Producers, who emphasized that yields could reach a record 40 tonnes per hectare. This yield results from the production of the Moroccan cultivar “Tassaout,” a new variety distinguished by the quality of its oil, superior to that of the renowned Greek “Koroneiki” and complementing local varieties such as Moroccan Picholine, Haouzia and Menara.

To read: Morocco: towards a drastic drop in the price of olive oil?

Despite the abundant harvest announced, producers continue to face major challenges related to storage, distribution and exports. “Olive oil must be pressed quickly to preserve its quality. However, the capacity of the crushing units is limited,” the producer laments.

With annual domestic consumption of 140 000 tonnes, Morocco could export its surplus olive oil to Europe, North America or the Middle East, where demand is rising. “The real challenge is to strike a balance between meeting the needs of the domestic market at affordable prices and making the most of the export potential,” says an industry expert. Professionals, for their part, are calling for clear public policies to stabilize prices and combat speculation and fraud.