Ramadan 2026: Sardines at 30 DH, the price shock that overwhelms Moroccan households

In the markets of the kingdom, consumers are facing high inflation. Sardines, once a pillar of food affordability, now reach 30 dirhams per kilo in Casablanca according to Finances News Hebdo. Mackerel is traded between 45 and 50 dirhams, while whiting is around 60 dirhams and mullet exceeds 70 dirhams.

This surge coincides with the holy month, a period when demand for this type of product peaks for evening meals. Despite the country’s vast maritime facades, the inability of supply to keep up with this seasonal pace is causing unpredictable volatility, making it particularly difficult for Moroccan households to plan their purchases. Ramadan: the law of supply and demand dictates the prices of the stalls

Prices depend exclusively on the volume of arrivals, explains a merchant. "If the truck arrives with fewer crates, we cannot maintain the prices," explains this fishmonger quoted by the magazine. He specifies that merchants have to pass on the purchase cost to avoid working at a loss.

The instability rests on a fragile balance. Weather conditions and biological rest periods limit catches, while logistics circuits - including refrigerated transport, handling and multiple intermediaries - add successive margins. Between the port and the final basket, each step systematically increases the product.