فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
Rachid Benali, President of the Moroccan Interprofessional Olive Federation (Interprolive), has evaluated the impact of importing olive oil on the Moroccan market. This assessment comes after the government allowed imports to mitigate the sharp price increases caused by declining domestic production.
In an interview with H24 Info, Benali noted that the effects of these imports are mixed. While some brands have seen price reductions, particularly those importing from Tunisia where costs are lower, others have maintained their prices due to their market positioning or quality.
For local producers, prices have significantly dropped, from between 85 and 90 dirhams per liter to between 65 and 70 dirhams. This reflects a substantial impact on wholesale sales.
For the final consumer, the situation is more nuanced. Some products have become cheaper, while others remain expensive, largely due to the diversity of olive oil categories, such as regular, extra virgin, and premium.
Benali stated that the objectives of this measure have not been fully achieved. Although prices for some brands have decreased, others remain high, especially Italian and Spanish oils, due to their superior quality and market positioning.
Regarding the current olive oil campaign, definitive figures are not yet available, but the upcoming season looks promising due to recent rainfall that arrived at a strategic time for olive tree growth. However, it is too early to assess the exact impact in regions like Marrakech, which suffered significantly from drought.
Benali emphasized that intermediaries play a crucial role in price formation. For instance, while farm prices are around 65 dirhams per liter, market prices can reach 90 dirhams. This discrepancy is due to intermediaries’ involvement in olive sales. Limiting their influence is complex, and no professional organization, including Interprolive, has successfully eradicated this phenomenon.
Finally, Benali noted that massive olive oil imports could threaten the competitiveness of Moroccan producers, especially with falling prices. However, the quality of Moroccan olive oil remains a differentiating factor both locally and internationally.
