Morocco’s poultry sector has largely overcome recent disruptions in the import of compound animal feed that had raised concerns about production and prices in recent months, industry representatives said.
The difficulties stemmed from delays in unloading shipments at the ports of Jorf Lasfar Port and Port of Casablancaduring the past two months, which temporarily affected feed supplies for poultry producers.
In late January, the Moroccan Association of Compound Feed Manufacturers urged the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Water and Forests, as well as the Ministry of Equipment and Water and the Ministry of Industry and Trade, to intervene to prevent negative effects on the domestic market.
The warning was echoed by the National Association of Poultry Meat Producers, which cautioned that prolonged supply disruptions could threaten animal production chains.
Chicken prices in Morocco have stabilized since mid-Ramadan, ranging between 17 and 22 Moroccan dirhams per kilogram, after previously reaching nearly 30 dirhams per kilogram.
However, some industry voices have warned against potential price hikes by retailers as the market approaches Eid al-Fitr, a period traditionally marked by increased consumer demand.
Mustapha Al-Mountassir, head of the National Association of Poultry Meat Producers, said the crisis was temporary and linked mainly to adverse weather conditions and docking difficulties at the ports of Casablanca and Jorf Lasfar.
He said feed supply to the national market has gradually returned to normal since the end of February, though prices for some feed products have increased by about 5%, reaching more than 4 dirhams per kilogram.
According to Al-Mountassir, live chicken currently sells at farms for around 13 dirhams per kilogram, while retail prices typically range between 17 and 20 dirhams.
Meanwhile, the price of day-old chicks has fallen significantly to between 5 and 6.5 dirhams, compared with about 12 dirhams previously, reflecting improved supply conditions.
He said production levels are currently sufficient to meet demand but noted that seasonal price increases may occur due to higher consumption during holidays. However, he stressed that retailers should not use unjustified reasons to raise prices.
Noureddine Hammou, head of the Moroccan Association for Consumer Protection and Defense of Rights, said poultry remains one of the most widely consumed food products in Morocco both during Ramadan and throughout the year.
He noted that retail chicken prices often exceed farm-gate costs by as much as 50%, highlighting a large gap between production costs and final consumer prices.
Hammou warned against any unjustified increases in the coming days, particularly since feed import flows have improved.
He added that further price hikes would put additional pressure on Moroccan households, especially as fish and red meat prices have remained high in recent weeks, calling on the government to strengthen oversight and curb speculation and excessive intermediary margins in the market for essential goods.
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