Morocco launches consumer hotline to tackle Ramadan price concerns

As Ramadan begins, Morocco has introduced the national hotline number 5757 to address consumer complaints and ensure market stability during the holy month. This initiative aims to alleviate growing concerns over rising food prices and the availability of essential goods, which are central to traditional Iftar meals.

The 5757 hotline provides a direct channel for citizens to report issues related to market supply, pricing, product quality, and consumer safety. It also enables the public to flag fraudulent practices, unfair competition, and other market irregularities requiring intervention. Accessible via mobile or landline across the country's telecommunications networks, the service operates daily from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. throughout Ramadan, with calls charged at standard rates based on the caller’s subscription plan.

This measure follows a February 4 meeting of the Interministerial Commission for Market Supply and Price Monitoring, which outlined steps to ensure sufficient supplies of essential products, stabilize prices, and protect consumers from exploitation. Nadia Fettah, Morocco's Minister of Economy and Finance, emphasized the government’s commitment to maintaining product availability while safeguarding purchasing power.

Balancing tradition and economic pressures

Despite these efforts, many Moroccan households remain apprehensive about the traditional price hikes often associated with Ramadan. Markets and supermarkets are brimming with staples such as dates, dried fruits, honey, almonds, and semolina, yet consumers are voicing concerns over inflated costs. Calls for stricter controls to curb speculative practices have grown louder.

One notable controversy this year revolves around sardine prices. In Marrakech, fishmonger Abdelilah El Jabouni made headlines by selling sardines at MAD 5 per kilogram, a stark contrast to the MAD 15–20 prices seen in coastal cities like Casablanca and Rabat. The discrepancy has sparked debate over the role of intermediaries in Morocco's fish supply chain. Experts note that sardine prices can increase sevenfold between port landing and consumer purchase due to multiple layers of middlemen. Climate change, overfishing, and recent biological rest periods in southern fisheries have also contributed to reduced availability and higher prices.

A month of challenges and opportunities

For many Moroccans, Ramadan is a time to honor cherished culinary traditions despite economic challenges. Seasonal merchants, such as pastry vendors, experience a surge in business, particularly in the lead-up to Ramadan. Dates, a staple of Iftar, remain widely available in various local and imported varieties, often at accessible prices.

The government has pledged to intensify market monitoring to combat fraud, monopolies, and speculative practices. By addressing these issues, authorities hope to preserve citizens’ purchasing power and ensure that Ramadan remains a time of unity and celebration, even amid economic pressures.