Fuel prices at service stations across Morocco are expected to fall again from the early hours of Monday, November 16, as distributors implement their latest half-monthly price adjustments.
The size of the reductions varies between distributors, according to information provided to Hespress by an industry source on Sunday evening. The cuts follow increases at the beginning of November that pushed fuel prices above MAD 17 per liter, prompting public debate over their impact on consumer prices and production costs.
Two major distributors have informed members of the National Federation of Fuel Station Owners and Managers that they will reduce diesel prices by MAD 0.20 per liter and gasoline prices by MAD 0.50.
Another market operator is expected to cut diesel prices by MAD 0.29 per liter and gasoline by MAD 0.61, according to the same source.
The reductions will not necessarily take effect at all stations simultaneously. Their implementation will depend on each station’s remaining fuel stocks and how quickly it sells supplies purchased at previous prices.
“The implementation will be gradual,” the source told Hespress, explaining that the timing depends on individual stations’ inventories and their ability to sell fuel acquired at earlier prices.
Tax debate and calls to cap profit margins
The expected reductions come amid public debate over fuel prices following the increases earlier this month, as well as parliamentary discussions over a proposed 40% corporate tax rate for fuel companies.
Lawmakers have called for safeguards to prevent companies from passing the additional tax burden on to consumers through higher prices. Some have also demanded that authorities consider capping profit margins.
Responding during a plenary session of the House of Representatives on amendments to the 2027 Finance Bill on Saturday, Finance Minister Fouzi Lekjaa said corporate taxation was not directly linked to fuel prices.
He said pump prices were determined by international market prices, taxes, operating costs and profit margins.
Lekjaa also said the decline in international oil markets would be reflected in Moroccan fuel prices starting November 16. He added that the government was examining companies’ profit margins and the possibility of capping them.
Brent records second consecutive weekly decline
Internationally, Brent crude settled at $95.84 a barrel on Friday, recording its second consecutive weekly decline, of around 2.5%, according to Reuters data.
The benchmark had fallen by approximately 16% the previous week after approaching $118 a barrel in October. It also touched a 10-week low of $91.50 on November 10.
U.S. crude closed Friday at $88.56 a barrel.
Economic reports have attributed the decline to growing supply surpluses, increased production by OPEC+ members and rising U.S. crude inventories. Reduced concerns over a wider regional conflict following the U.S. blockade of Iranian oil have also contributed to easing market pressure.
Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration showed that American crude inventories increased by 4.7 million barrels to 414.4 million barrels.
Markets nevertheless remain volatile. Brent rose by more than $3 on Thursday following attacks claimed by Yemen’s Houthi movement against Saudi energy facilities and renewed disruptions to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
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