Morocco: vegetable prices surge, onion nears 6 dirhams
Tomato, onion and carrot prices are rising in Casablanca because of September's heatwave in the Souss region, as chicken and meat prices also climb across Morocco.
Vegetable prices have risen in Casablanca's markets over the past few days, as consumers complain about shrinking purchasing power. Tomatoes are selling for about 10 dirhams a kilo, potatoes and onions for between 4.5 and 6 dirhams, and carrots for between 4 and 5 dirhams, according to industry professionals.
Why are vegetable prices rising in Morocco?
Traders at Casablanca's wholesale market link the rise to the heatwave that hit farming regions last September, damaging crops, especially in the Souss region. One wholesale market trader said crops were significantly affected by the heatwave, adding that the period coincided with falling output in the Gharb, Doukkala-Abda and plains near Casablanca, while Agadir's harvest was delayed by the heat. Export demand from African, European and Asian markets is also pulling supply away from production areas such as Agadir, on top of rising production costs for fuel, labour and fertiliser. Despite adequate stock, Casablanca's market has seen slower trading activity because of consumers' weaker purchasing power.
Onions illustrate the trend: according to a wholesaler specialising in the vegetable, a crate of yellow onions sells for 94 to 96 dirhams at the farm, reaching about 110 dirhams at market after transport costs, while red onions sell for about 5 dirhams at the farm and 6 dirhams wholesale. The wholesaler attributed the price rise to September's rain and heat, which limited supply, noting that the Fès-Meknès region supplies most of the kingdom's onions from October to April.
| Product | Approximate price | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Tomato | 10 DH | - |
| Potato | 4.5 - 6 DH | - |
| Onion (retail) | 4.5 - 6 DH | Crate of yellow onions 94-96 DH at the farm |
| Carrot | 4 - 5 DH | - |
| Courgette | 10 - 11 DH | - |
| Green beans | 14 - 15 DH | - |
| Green peas | 15 - 16 DH | - |
Chicken and meat are also rising
The increase is not limited to vegetables: markets in Casablanca and Marrakech have also recorded a new rise in chicken prices, which reached about 22.5 dirhams a kilo wholesale in Casablanca and between 24 and 26 dirhams in Marrakech, according to local media. Industry professionals attribute the rise to falling chick production in recent weeks, after farmers took losses earlier in the year when selling prices failed to cover production costs between April and September.
Consumers and professionals are calling on public authorities to intervene to rebalance supply and demand and support farm production, easing pressure on Moroccan household budgets. Poultry sector professionals say prices typically follow a seasonal cycle, with a gradual decline possible from December onward.