Moroccan sardine prices have surged, notably in August, to around 35 MAD per kilogram up from the average of 15 MAD per kilogram, due to shortages that have persisted for months.
The shortage is attributed to rising demand for what is traditionally considered “the poor man’s fish” in Morocco.
Sardines are a popular food choice for Moroccans during the summer, and experts point to the increase in demand as one of the main drivers of the price hike. “Certainly, several factors contribute to this high cost, but professionals agree that while a price increase is logical, it should never reach these levels,” stated an article by the daily “Les Inspirations Eco.”
In addition to local consumption, fish processing industries are also contributing to the price surge, typically “buying sardines at 9 dirhams per kilogram instead of 4.” Exporters, on the other hand, tend to “raise prices locally to sell at lower prices in the European market,” around 5 euros per kilogram, explains the same source.
Professionals across the Kingdom have been calling for intervention from the authorities and the Competition Council to investigate the issue.