Consumers in Morocco are closely watching the upcoming semi-monthly update of fuel prices at service stations, with industry sources predicting a likely increase driven by rising global oil prices and ongoing tensions in the Middle East.
A Hespress AR source from the National Federation of Fuel Station Owners and Managers in Morocco told local media that the magnitude of the increase remains uncertain but that market indicators point to a significant rise.
The price of diesel could increase by around 2 dirhams per liter or slightly more, according to preliminary estimates circulating among professionals in the sector.
However, the source stressed that these figures remain speculative, reflecting expectations rather than confirmed pricing decisions.
“If the increase proves to be significant, it may be implemented in two phases to avoid sudden pressure on consumers’ purchasing power and ensure a more gradual adjustment,” the source said.
Fuel station operators themselves have limited insight into how retail prices are determined, the source added.
Station owners typically follow the pricing strategies of the fuel supply companies they work with and are not provided detailed information about factors influencing price updates, such as inventory levels, exchange rate fluctuations involving the U.S. dollar, or transportation costs.
According to industry practices, station owners usually receive notice of the new prices only hours before they take effect. If an update is scheduled for a Sunday, operators are often informed later that same day, shortly before the new prices are applied.
Fuel prices in Morocco have already experienced fluctuations in recent weeks. At the beginning of March, both diesel and gasoline prices increased by about 0.25 dirhams per liter, according to industry sources.
Earlier in February, several companies implemented price increases of roughly 0.35 dirhams per liter for diesel and about 0.11 dirhams per liter for premium gasoline, reflecting periodic adjustments linked to international markets.
Houssine El Yamani, secretary-general of the National Union of Petroleum and Gas, said Moroccan authorities should consider temporarily reintroducing regulation of fuel prices to protect consumers from volatility linked to international markets.
El Yamani also called for measures to address declining national fuel reserves, clarify responsibilities between the government and energy companies, and introduce hedging mechanisms to limit the impact of global price swings.
He further suggested options such as reintroducing subsidies through the national compensation fund or reducing taxes on fuel — which exceed 4 dirhams per liter for diesel and more than 5 dirhams for gasoline.
The expert also renewed calls to revive the country’s only oil refinery, the SAMIR, possibly by first reopening storage facilities and later resuming refining operations.
With the U.S.-Israeli conflict involving Iran entering its second week, El Yamani said international markets have already seen crude oil prices approach $100 per barrel, while diesel prices reached about $1,112 per ton, roughly equivalent to 9.5 Moroccan dirhams per liter.
According to the expert, efforts to calm markets, including discussions about releasing strategic reserves and securing shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz, have so far failed to halt the rise in global energy prices.
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