Inflation has become a familiar companion during Ramadan. For a second consecutive year, Moroccans begin the holy month with tighter wallets and sharper scrutiny of everyday prices. In conversations across cafes and markets, the central concern is clear: which staples are rising the most? A young man in a Rabat café notes, “Milk is rising fastest,” capturing a trend felt in many households. On the world stage, the war in Ukraine and ongoing droughts have weighed on the Maghreb for years, influencing prices and availability at home.
Within Rabat’s central market, queues form as shoppers finish their preparations for iftar, the sunset meal. Tomatoes remain among the most demanded items, serving as a base for harira, a beloved chickpea-and-meat soup widely enjoyed during Ramadan. A kilo is priced at 12 dirhams (about 1.20 euros), higher than usual. Fish also holds a special place this season. The market vendor Fehd explains that Ramadan is typically a peak period for sales, with demand bolstered by tradition. “Prices rise in Ramadan, and this year the jump is sharper due to higher food costs and fuel,” he says. Intermediaries push costs upward, leaving shopkeepers little choice but to adjust prices accordingly. Mint is another staple that sees strong demand as households prepare for the long fast. [Citation: local market reports and interviews]
Across this year’s harvest, the weight of seasonal changes and climate conditions has shown in the dates on offer. Some Rabat medina shops did not report price hikes, while others saw a rise of roughly a euro as production dipped by about 20 percent due to drought and lack of rainfall. Zakaria, who runs a small shop on the main street of Rabat’s medina, notes the availability of Moroccan dates alongside Algerian, Tunisian, and Saudi varieties. Dates remain an indispensable part of Ramadan tables. It is estimated that Moroccans consume more than three kilograms of dates per person annually, because they provide energy to sustain the daylong fast. “We break the fast with dates; they are still essential,” the seller explains. [Citation: market observations and vendor interviews]
“This Ramadan will feel different for many families,” says Youssef, a city resident. He points to the rising cost of staples such as milk, tomatoes, and dates. He adds that onions have surged to 15 dirhams per kilo, a level he has not seen before. In many homes, iftar remains a special moment shared with family and friends, even as the atmosphere is tinged with concern over prices. [Citation: consumer surveys and street interviews]
limiting exports
In January, the consumer price index jumped, with overall inflation near 9 percent and food prices rising to about 16.8 percent, according to data from the High Commission for Planning. In response, the government has moved to curb exports of certain fruits and vegetables to stabilize local prices. While the policy aims to shield Moroccan shoppers, it has unsettled farmers in areas such as Agadir, who worry about the impact on their livelihoods and the broader market balance. [Citation: official statistics and policy announcements]
Earlier this week, ranchers and farmers met with the Ministry of Agriculture in Rabat to express their concerns about the export limits. They argued that the selling price inside Morocco often falls short of production costs, and they emphasized the need to balance domestic supply with export commitments to protect citizens’ purchasing power. [Citation: digital Le360 report and industry briefings]
Activists from the Moroccan Social Front note that Moroccans now face an exceptionally expensive living environment. They argue that agricultural products sold in Europe can be cheaper than in local markets, highlighting a chain where vegetables and fish pass through several intermediaries before reaching consumers. The lack of a comprehensive regulatory framework to curb price speculation is seen as a contributing factor to the burden placed on households. In the end, the citizen bears the highest price. [Citation: activist statements and market analysis]