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Morocco: Slight Decrease in Wholesale Sheep Prices Amidst Consumer Affordability Concerns
🇲🇦 Morocco /Economy & Trade

Morocco: Slight Decrease in Wholesale Sheep Prices Amidst Consumer Affordability Concerns

From Hespress · (15h ago) Arabic

Translated from Arabic, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Wholesale sheep prices in Morocco have slightly decreased to 120 dirhams per kilogram from around 130 dirhams.
  • The price drop is attributed to a large influx of sheep, including younger animals, entering the regional abattoir in Bouknadel.
  • Despite the current decrease, future prices remain uncertain due to the approaching Eid al-Adha holiday, a key period for sheep sales.

Moroccan consumers are experiencing a slight reprieve in sheep meat prices, with wholesale rates at the Bouknadel regional abattoir dropping to 120 dirhams per kilogram from a recent high of 130 dirhams. This welcome dip, reported by Hespress sources, comes as a diverse range of sheep, including younger stock, have entered the market, defying earlier expectations of a price surge. The daily slaughter rate at Bouknadel stands at approximately 1100 sheep, significantly more than the hundreds of cattle processed.

this decrease in wholesale prices comes after the registration of a large variety of sheep entering the slaughterhouse; including those that have not yet reached one year of age, in a context where data indicated the possibility of a new jump in prices

— professional sourcesExplaining the reasons behind the slight decrease in sheep meat prices.

While this wholesale reduction offers a glimmer of hope, the reality for the average Moroccan consumer remains challenging. Retail prices for sheep meat continue to hover around 150 dirhams in traditional markets and can reach 160 dirhams in modern stores. Beef and veal wholesale prices range from 87 to 90 dirhams, selling retail between 100 and 110 dirhams. These figures, as highlighted by industry professionals, remain beyond the purchasing power of many families, leading to reduced consumption.

the price directed to the final consumer varies depending on the quality and the way the product is presented, where one kilogram of sheep meat is sold for about 150 dirhams in traditional stores; while it reaches 160 dirhams in modern stores

— newspaper sourcesHighlighting the difference between wholesale and retail prices for consumers.

The looming Eid al-Adha holiday casts a shadow of uncertainty over future price trends. Many sheep farmers are expected to hold onto their stock for the religious festival, a traditional period of high demand and, consequently, higher prices. This anticipation means that the current price decrease might be temporary, and consumers could face renewed price hikes as the holiday approaches. The situation in Casablanca mirrors some of these trends, with wholesale sheep prices at 130 dirhams and retail at 150 dirhams, despite a high daily slaughter rate.

these prices, for all types of red meat, exceed the purchasing power of wide segments of Moroccan society, and also contribute to the reduction in the pace of purchase and consumption

— professional sourcesCommenting on the affordability of meat for the general population.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hespress in Arabic. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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