June 11, 2026

 

Poultry producers in Morocco caution of growing crisis in broiler sector

 

 

Morocco's poultry producers are warning of a deepening crisis in the broiler chicken sector as farmgate prices have fallen to less than MAD7 (US$0.70) per kilogramme, well below production costs estimated at between MAD15 (US$1.50) and MAD17 (US$1.70) per kilogramme.

 

The National Association of Chicken Breeders said the situation is inflicting heavy losses on farmers and pushing many producers towards bankruptcy. In a statement, the association blamed regulators for failing to adequately organise the market and address persistent distortions and speculative practices.

 

The group called for urgent government intervention to halt mounting losses, launch a transparent investigation into the poultry marketing chain, and strengthen oversight mechanisms to combat market manipulation and anti-competitive practices. It also warned that the crisis could threaten the sustainability of domestic production and undermine Morocco's food security.

 

Ali Chtour, president of the Moroccan Association for the Defence of Consumer Rights and a member of the Moroccan Federation of Consumer Rights, said that the decline in demand is partly seasonal. He noted that chicken consumption traditionally falls after Eid al-Adha, when many households still have supplies of sacrificial meat and seek to reduce their daily expenses.

 

"The main victims of this temporary slowdown are poultry farmers, who must continue producing and marketing large volumes regardless of seasonal demand fluctuations," Chtour told Hespress AR.

 

He added that producers are facing soaring operating costs, including imported feed, veterinary products and other production inputs, placing significant financial pressure on the sector.

 

Chtour urged the government to introduce support measures to prevent the collapse of poultry farming operations, warning that a large-scale exit of producers from the market could eventually trigger sharp price increases for consumers.

 

Said Jnah, secretary-general of the National Association of Broiler Chicken Breeders, said the sector suffers from structural weaknesses, including the presence of an extensive informal market and multiple intermediaries who dominate both the day-old chick market and the distribution of finished poultry products.

 

According to Jnah, producers were led to believe before Eid al-Adha that there would be a shortage of chicks, driving chick prices up to MAD10 (US$1.00) each, while chicken selling prices remained around MAD9 (US$0.90) per kilogramme. He accused some market actors of manipulating supply data and concealing the true scale of production, contributing to heavy losses for farmers.

 

Many producers chose to hold onto their stock in anticipation of higher prices during the holiday period, resulting in a significant build-up of supply. Jnah said national demand typically ranges between eight million and nine million birds, while current production has reached between 14 million and 15 million birds.

 

The resulting oversupply has coincided with a sharp rise in production costs. Jnah estimated total production costs at between MAD15 (US$1.50) and MAD17 (US$1.70) per kilogramme, compared with wholesale prices of about MAD9.5 (US$0.95) per kilogramme in Casablanca and purchase prices by distributors as low as MAD7 (US$0.70) per kilogramme.

 

"The sector is no longer facing ordinary losses of one or two dirhams per kilogramme," Jnah told Hespress AR. "Farmers are losing between MAD6 (US$0.60) and MAD7 (US$0.70) per kilogramme, which makes bankruptcy inevitable for many operators."

 

He added that numerous producers are already facing legal action linked to unpaid debts and promissory notes, raising concerns about broader social and economic consequences if the crisis persists.

 

The association has renewed its call for authorities to investigate alleged irregularities in the marketing system and to take immediate measures against speculation and monopolistic practices that it says are disrupting the normal functioning of the poultry market.

 

- Hespress English