Competition Council Reports Moderate Price, Margin Behavior by Fuel Companies Competition Council Reports Moderate Price, Margin Behavior by Fuel Companies

Morocco’s main fuel distribution companies were accused of anti-competitive practices after they had coordinated their pricing behavior, limited competition, and maintained high profit margins at the expense of consumers.

Rabat – The Moroccan Competition Council’s recent report revealed that fuel distribution companies are largely complying with the commitments they made under settlement agreements.

Its report on the third quarter of 2025 monitored nine fuel companies that previously signed agreements with the Council after being accused of anti-competitive practices in the fuel market. These companies committed to transparency, regular reporting, and aligning prices with real costs.

During this period, fuel imports increased by 12.4%, reaching about 1.91 million tons, while the total value of imports fell slightly by 1.3% to nearly MAD 12.73 billion. The Council said this reflects higher import volumes despite lower international prices.

The nine companies covered by the report accounted for around 82% of total fuel imports. Their gross profit margins remained stable, with diesel margins at MAD 1.48 per liter and gasoline margins at MAD 2.10 per liter. These figures are almost the same as those recorded in the same period in 2024.

Compared to the second quarter of 2025, profit margins increased, indicating a recovery after lower margins earlier in the year. However, the Council noted that changes in international prices and purchase costs were generally passed on to local selling prices in a balanced manner.

Tax revenues linked to fuel imports rose to about MAD 7.83 billion, an increase of 8.6% compared to the same period last year. The council says this growth was mainly driven by higher import volumes rather than higher prices.

The report also showed stability in fuel storage capacity, which reached 1.57 million tons by the end of September 2025. The nine companies controlled about 81% of total storage capacity. In addition, the number of fuel distributors increased to 39, signaling the entry of a new operator into the market.

The Competition Council’s findings indicate a generally consistent implementation of the commitments made by fuel companies. The council stressed that monitoring will continue to ensure fair competition and consumer protection.