Stable prices and regular supply

All products of high consumption during this holy month will be available in sufficient quantity and the supply will even be largely superior to the demand for several foodstuffs, affirmed the services in charge of market supply and price control during a meeting held Thursday at the headquarters of the wilaya. Regarding sugar, a commodity used massively by Moroccans during Ramadan for the preparation of cakes, notably Chebakia, the demand, estimated at 3,180 tonnes, will be satisfied thanks to the stocks available at the Cosumar company and in the region's supermarkets. The same applies to wheat and edible oils, the supply of which will not experience any disruption thanks to the abundant supply from the various industrial units and the provisions taken by the authorities to ensure good fluidity of supply. For gas, the needs, estimated at 7,650 tonnes, will be satisfied thanks to the stocks of distribution companies and filling centres in Taoujtate, Meknes, Sidi Kacem, and Oujda in particular. Butter and margarine, the consumption of which increases by 50% on this occasion, will also be available in sufficient quantity on the market. Thus, and for a demand estimated at 50 tonnes for these two materials, the available supply will reach 133 tonnes. Milk, another product of high consumption, the production of the various units, combined with stocks of pasteurised milk, makes it possible to largely satisfy the demand, estimated at 5.4 million litres. The supply of the market in red and white meats also raises no concern, since the quantities that will be put on the market make it possible to meet the needs of the population satisfactorily, of the order of 940 tonnes for the first category and 1,000 tonnes for the second. Pulses will also be available in sufficient quantity on the market, with the exception of chickpeas, the production of which was affected by the off-season rains of last April, but the importation of which should make up for the deficit. For dates, very present on the ftour table of Moroccans, the deficit in national production will be compensated by imports from Tunisia, Algeria, and the United Arab Emirates, which will make it possible to meet the needs of the market, estimated at 1,200 tonnes during this period. The competent services decided on this occasion to energise the commissions in charge of price control and market surveillance, in order to avoid any speculation or illegal increase in prices during this month, especially for products of high consumption and those subsidised by the State. They also decided to accentuate hygiene control to preserve the health of citizens and ensure the quality of products put on the market. The Minister in charge of General Affairs and Governance, Najib Boulif, had assured parliament on Monday that all products of high consumption during this holy month were available on the market, specifying that the supply was twice as high as the demand for sugar, table oil, butter, and butane gas, and four times higher for canned tomatoes. He added that the government has taken strict measures to ensure the control of prices and the quality of products.

Provider / Source : MAP, Le Matin