Chicken prices surge again in Morocco after months of decline

Yesterday 22:15

After several months of relative calm and a sharp decline in prices, Morocco’s poultry market is facing a renewed surge in chicken prices. In Casablanca, retail prices have climbed to between 22 and 24 dirhams per kilogram, while wholesale prices are currently ranging from 17 to 17.50 dirhams.

According to Finances News Hebdo, the sudden reversal is putting additional pressure on household purchasing power and exposing the poultry sector’s strong cyclical nature and structural vulnerabilities.

Production cuts set the stage for the current shortage

The origins of the price surge can be traced back to the period preceding Eid Al-Adha. At the time, national production was operating at full capacity, reaching between 12 and 12.5 million chicks per week. Demand, however, had fallen sharply, creating an unprecedented oversupply.

The resulting market saturation caused producer prices to collapse. Farmers were forced to sell chicken for as little as 6 to 8 dirhams per kilogram, while chick prices also plunged to critically low levels of between 0.30 and 0.50 dirham per chick.

Mustapha Montasser, president of the National Association of Poultry Meat Producers, told Finances News that the losses had a lasting impact on the sector. Many farms, hit hard by the downturn, stopped renewing their flocks during May and June.

Some hatcheries went even further, prematurely selling breeding hens because of the collapse in chick prices. These survival measures reduced the sector’s production capacity and are now contributing to a significant shortage of poultry supplies in September.

Prices could remain high through October

Consumers may have to wait before seeing meaningful relief. Price pressures are expected to continue throughout the rest of September and into the first half of October.

A gradual improvement could emerge toward the end of October, when farmers are expected to resume the production cycle and supply begins to recover. If current projections materialize, chicken prices could fall significantly to around 12 to 14 dirhams per kilogram during November and December.

Calls grow for stronger market infrastructure

The latest price shock has also revived calls for deeper structural reforms in Morocco’s poultry industry. Industry professionals are advocating the development of industrial slaughterhouses and greater refrigerated storage capacity.

The objective is to allow surplus production to be stored during periods of oversupply and subsequently released when the market faces shortages, helping to reduce the sector’s recurring price fluctuations.

Turkey sector shows greater resilience

The turkey market, meanwhile, has remained relatively stable despite the turmoil affecting chicken prices. Turkey currently sells for between 15 and 16 dirhams per kilogram.

This greater resilience is largely attributed to a more organized value chain. Industrial slaughterhouses and refrigerated facilities account for around 80% of the turkey sector’s activity, allowing it to absorb temporary supply and demand shocks more effectively.

The contrasting performance of the two markets highlights the importance of storage and processing infrastructure in reducing volatility and protecting both producers and consumers from sharp price swings.