Mauritius Trade Gap Highest Since 2023

Mauritius’ trade deficit widened to MUR 22.1 billion in October 2025, from MUR 19 billion in the same month a year earlier. This marked the largest trade gap since December 2024, as imports rose by 9.7% year-on-year to MUR 31.2 billion, primarily driven by higher purchases of food and live animals (41.0%), mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (5.1%), and machinery and transport equipment (1.9%). Imports from major suppliers increased significantly, particularly from China (14.2%), India (17.4%), and France (39.4%). Meanwhile, exports declined by 5% year-on-year to MUR 9.1 billion, largely reflecting lower shipments of food and live animals (-16.9%), beverages and tobacco (-27.0%), miscellaneous manufactured articles (-8.9%), and machinery and transport equipment (-5.2%). Among key trading partners, exports to France fell by 19.2%, shipments to Madagascar plunged by 39.0%, and exports to the UK dropped by 19.0%.

Mauritius’ trade deficit narrowed to MUR 15.5 billion in September 2025 from MUR 19.6 billion in the same month last year. Exports fell 3% year-on-year to MUR 9.3 billion, weighed down by steep declines in crude materials, inedible, except fuels (-29.7%), animal and vegetable oils, fats, and waxes (-33.3%), and chemicals and related products (-24.2%). Among key partners, exports to the United States sank 36%, dragged by the 10% reciprocal tariffs, while shipments to France dropped 20.2%. Meanwhile, imports fell 14.9% to MUR 24.8 billion, driven by lower purchases of food and live animals (-3.6%), animal and vegetable oils, fats, and waxes (-45.9%), and mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (-41.6%). Imports from major suppliers such as the UAE (-67.7%), India (-33.5%), France (-25.3%), and South Africa (-23.4%) declined significantly.

Mauritius’s trade deficit widened to MUR 19.1 billion in June 2025 from MUR 16.4 billion in the same month last year, marking the largest deficit so far this year. Exports plunged 10.4% year-on-year to MUR 9.3 billion, dragged down by sharp declines in crude materials (-45.5%), manufactured goods (-23.6%), and chemicals and related products (-12.9%). Despite the overall drop, exports to the US surged 40% as the country ramped up shipments ahead of the 40% reciprocal tariff on Mauritian goods; the US accounted for 13.1% of total exports. Shipments to most other major partners fell, including Madagascar (-28.9%), the UK (-23.4%), and France (-14.2%). Meanwhile, imports rose 7.8% to MUR 28.4 billion, boosted by higher purchases of food and live animals (+34.2%) and transport equipment (+20.6%). Imports from the UAE (+54.3%) grew the most, giving the country the largest import share at 16.5%, while arrivals from Madagascar (+30.4%) and South Africa (+15.9%) also increased.