Rabat – Cigarette prices in Morocco are expected to increase by MAD 2-3 per pack, following governmental plans to impose more taxes on tobacco products.
Morocco’s government expects to collect MAD 12.5 billion in tax on tobacco products in 2023, meaning a near 6% increase that tax authorities will be seeking to collect from manufacturers, with the bill expected to be passed down to consumers.
The price increase should affect all brands available on the market, Moroccan outlet Le360 claimed, although some manufacturers will surely want to avoid another rise in prices.
“Luxury” or “premium” brands will be the first to resist this increase, experts said, as they prioritize preserving their customer base and profit margins, but that might come into conflict with an increased will from the government to collect its taxes and enforce the law.
Earlier this month, Morocco increased taxes on waterpipes, commonly known as shisha, as well as on electronic cigarettes, over concerns for public health.
The tax extended the taxes to tobacco-free shisha as well, with the government citing recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) to impose the same restrictions on tobacco-free shisha as with tobacco-based products.
