Morocco

Due to the impact of adverse climatic conditions and the escalating cost of raw materials used in animal feed on the Moroccan dairy sector, struggling breeders were forced to cull dairy cows to offset losses and ensure survival. This led to a…

The demand for other dairy products experienced a decline in the first half of 2023 due to reduced consumer budgets and a decrease in demand for indulgence products. The category's relatively small size, limited potential for innovation in some…

Plant-based dairy products are still in their nascent stages of development within the Moroccan market. The introduction of soya-based drinks marked the initial foray into this category. Copralim and Food Group Trading led the way with Sojasun and…

Yoghurt sales saw a deceleration in volume growth during the first half of 2023, primarily attributed to the challenging economic landscape and declining disposable incomes. Amid the global economic recession, consumers exhibited a trend of…

Although state finances are set to improve through higher taxation, economic freedom is challenging and corruption persists. Owing to lower agricultural output, the economy has slowed down markedly, but inflation is under control and fertiliser…

The number of charge cards in circulation in Morocco is rising thanks mainly to population growth, urbanisation and the rising share of the banked population. The convenience of interest-free deferred payments - the core feature of charge cards - is…

Morocco’s latest unemployment data exhibits a rise to almost 13% in the first three months of 2023, from just over 12% over the same period last year, as the farming sector shrunk due to the worst drought in decades, directly affecting the sector’s…

While Morocco saw dynamic demand for consumer lending immediately post-pandemic as retailers and foodservice outlets reopened their doors to consumers, from September 2022 the market has been impacted by soaring prices impacting purchasing power…

Morocco is a country heavily reliant on cash, with consumers historically favouring debit cards to any other types of financial cards; standard credit cards continue to suffer from a negative perception among locals for several reasons. The demand…

Driven by population growth and continued urbanisation, the number of debit cards in Morocco continues to soar. Traditionally, local consumers show a strong preference for using debit cards thanks to the safety and reliability of paying with existing…

Morocco’s commitment and investments in financial inclusion are paying off, with the nation having recorded double-digit growth in account ownership since 2017; this makes Morocco one of only four countries worldwide to achieve this. According to the…

There are no open-loop pre-paid cards in Morocco, and the number of closed-loop pre-paid cards (and the value of transactions made using them) was in decline even before the onset of the pandemic. The increased use of debit cards was the main driver…

The popularity of store cards was already in decline during the review period. Among the main reasons for this is that many local consumers struggle to see the advantages that these cards offer or, alternatively, they understand the advantages but do…

Commodity prices recorded a rise in 2022, compared to the previous year, aggravated by war in Ukraine. However, the second half of the year saw a downward correction in prices, explained by the weakness of global demand. The national economy has…

There was a poor olive oil harvest in Morocco, in 2022 due mainly to water shortages during winter (January-March). This resulted in reduced flowering and affected the harvest. Moreover, Morocco witnessed the blow of hot arid winds (Chergui) from the…

Many Moroccans perceive ready meals to be less healthy and not as tasty than freshly cooked food, while they also see them as more expensive options. With consumers more appreciative of taste, sensitive to price and, to a lesser extent, health and…

Tomato shortages in 2022 due to low local production and soaring prices of fresh tomatoes prompted many consumers to switch to packaged tomato pastes and purées towards the end of the review period. The drought and the severe cold winter weather…

Over 2023, sweet spreads is set to rebound, albeit marginally, from the slight decline in retail volume sales in 2022. Stagnation is due mainly to the strong retail volume decline in honey and only moderate growth in the main category, jams and…

In 2023, the economic recession has driven a significant change in consumer habits among Moroccans. As a result, there is a noticeable increase in the consumption of unpackaged bread. Consumers are moving away from modern dishes like pasta or…

A majority of Moroccans have a longstanding breakfast tradition of consuming bread with spreads, olive oil, or cheese. Breakfast cereals remain an unpopular choice in the country due to their higher cost and less satisfying nature compared to…

The dynamism in frozen processed potatoes, shelf-stable tomatoes, and beans is significantly driven by consumers' increasing demand for convenience. Urbanisation, rising numbers of working women, and smaller household sizes are prompting consumers to…

Processed meat continues its downward trend in response to the prevailing health and wellness movement. Local consumers are increasingly moving away from processed meat, viewing it as less healthy due to the additives and preservatives required for…

Rice has experienced dynamic growth, driven by consumer concerns about the hygiene of unpackaged rice, leading many to opt for packaged rice. In Moroccan diets, while bread remains the primary staple, rice is increasingly becoming the second most…

In 2022, commodity prices experienced a historic surge, largely attributed to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The Moroccan economy faced a significant slowdown due to a combination of drought and inflation, resulting in reduced domestic demand amid…

The overall landscape of apparel accessories in Morocco experienced a moderate decline in 2023, largely attributed to the sharp decrease in face mask sales. The return to pre-pandemic routines, marked by the complete lifting of restrictions in 2022,…

The end of the review period witnessed an unprecedented surge in commodity prices, exacerbated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. This surge, coupled with the national economy grappling with a slowdown due to drought and inflation, resulted in…

Decreasing birth rates, largely influenced by post-pandemic economic repercussions, led to a weakened market for baby and toddler wear. The postponement of childbearing due to economic uncertainty, reduced marriages, and increased celibacy, driven by…

The surge in sports participation among various age groups and genders in Morocco has notably impacted footwear sales in 2023. With an increased focus on health and wellness, evidenced by the rise in gyms, walking tracks, and outdoor fitness…

Hosiery purchases in Morocco continue to reflect low brand loyalty, primarily occurring as incidental buys during other shopping trips. The prevailing difficult economic conditions have severely constrained consumer finances, prompting a…

Tough economic conditions have led consumers to favour more affordable yet quality jeans, resulting in increased demand for economy and standard jeans. Standard jeans are preferred for their affordability, while economy jeans, especially favoured by…

Increasing price-sensitivity among male consumers led to a notable shift in preferences towards more affordable clothing options, particularly in economy clothing. This trend was further accentuated by the rise in customs duties on imported textile…

The national team's World Cup success significantly boosted sales of national football t-shirts among both locals and tourists, attributing to impressive growth. Meanwhile, BD Morocco's collaboration with athlete Hadi Laabi for brand promotion…

In response to Morocco's hot climate, loose trousers, loose tops, and dresses have surged in popularity. Dresses, especially, have seen significant growth as they cater to both conservative and less conservative women. This trend aligns with a…

Packaged water saw fast growth during 2023, with sales rising from a low base, having plenty of room to expand. In addition, due to drought and the low quality of tap water, particularly in coastal cities where tourists visit, many consumers switched…

Although carbonates posted negative off-trade volume growth, performance was slightly better than in 2022. This was attributed to the hot weather in the country, with a summer lasting from May until October, leading consumers to switch from hot…

The hot summer of 2022 and 2023 extended over six months in Morocco, from March to September. This prompted local consumers to avoid hot drinks such as coffee, migrating to soft drink options. This worked towards the category recording modest volume…

Liquid concentrates sales posted positive growth in 2023, aided by an ongoing trend of mixing still or sparkling water or cold milk with liquid concentrates, namely pomegranate, the best-selling flavour in Morocco.

Due to urbanisation and the rising number of consumers aged 18-24 in Morocco, sales of energy drinks recorded dynamic growth in 2023. Ongoing urbanisation stimulates sales since these products are mainly available and consumed in bigger cities.…

In 2023, the Moroccan economy was negatively impacted by rising inflation, high unemployment levels and lower disposable incomes, leading to a slowdown in retail volume sales. The prices of raw materials and consumer goods, particularly energy,…

Overall, juice posted positive retail volume and value growth in 2023, with demand driven by the soaring prices of fresh fruits, mainly oranges. When oranges are abundant and their price per kg drops, Moroccan consumers often make homemade, natural…

Other hot drinks continued to be the smallest area of the hot drinks landscape, being mainly comprised of flavoured powder drinks. The landscape struggles to establish itself in Morocco, as hot chocolate-based drinks are considered a luxury and…

As witnessed within RDT tea, RTD coffee drinks is a new product area in Morocco. As such, double-digit off-trade volume growth was recorded in 2023. While this was aided by increased distribution and product awareness, much of this dynamic growth was…

The niche landscape of RTD tea posted positive off-trade volume growth in 2022, although much of this can be attributed to the fact that the category is growing from a low base. Sales have also benefited from wider penetration due to increased…

In 2023, the soft drinks landscape was challenged by rising inflation, drought, high levels of unemployment and lower disposable income. The price of raw materials and consumer goods increased, with energy prices soaring. As a result, consumer…

Sports drinks are not significant in Morocco and are not expected to gain significant sales in the forecast period. There is little distribution presence for these products and limited consumer awareness.

Green tea continued to dominate hot drinks, seeing the best performance in 2023 with double-digit retail value growth. Green tea benefits from being a very popular hot drink in Morocco, and sales rose in 2023 as price-sensitive consumers switched…

In 2023, air treatments products is set to record stable growth in retail volume terms, although the rate of growth has slowed year on year. The prevailing economic uncertainty and high cost of living is impacting demand. Air treatment products are…

Consumer appliances in Morocco has demonstrated mixed performance amidst rising inflation and supply chain disruptions in 2023. Despite a dip in demand during 2021 and early 2022, certain categories have regained their pre-pandemic sales levels.…

The post-pandemic recovery in the sales of dishwashers continued in 2023, with volume growth gaining momentum. With the return to workplaces and busy lifestyles, people have less time for household chores such as dishwashing. Dishwashers are mostly…

The dominant surge in 2023 egg sales came from free-range eggs, driven by their perceived health benefits over regular options. Moroccan consumers, seeking both affordability and health benefits, gravitated towards organic eggs, priced at a mere…