Mauritius has a liberal economic and trade policy, with a trade-to-GDP ratio of 98% (World Bank, latest data available). The country is a member of the WTO, as well as other regional economic groups (COMESA, SADC, IOC). Mauritius aims to transform the island into an open and globally competitive economy and to fully integrate it into the world trade system through its trade policies. Comparatively, the island does not have many trade barriers and customs duties are low (the weighted average applied tariff is only 0.92%). In 2021, Mauritius exports were led by clothing (24.4%, mainly t-shirts, shirts and suits), prepared or preserved fish (13.5%), and sugar (10%, sugarcane occupies 85% of the country's cultivated land); while the country imported chiefly petroleum products (17.2%), machinery (6.9%), vehicles (6.1%), and electrical machinery and equipment (6% - data ITC).
The country’s main trading partners are South Africa (13.8% of the total), France (13.4%), the United Kingdom (9.2%), the United States (8.3%), and Madagascar (7.7%); with imports originating from China (17.7%), India (15.6%), the UAE (8.8%), South Africa (8%), and France (6.7% - data ITC 2021).
Mauritius imports more than it exports, resulting in a structural trade deficit. In 2021, the country exported USD 1.9 billion worth of merchandise (+9.6% year-on-year) against USD 5.1 billion in imports (+21.4% y-o-y). Traditionally, the country is a net service exporter, thanks to its tourism sector. Nevertheless, in 2021 the balance of trade in services turned negative (USD 1.233 billion in commercial services export against USD 1.430 billion in imports - data by WTO). When computing both goods and services, Mauritius’ trade deficit stood at 9.7% of GDP in 2021 (from 7.1% one year earlier - World Bank). According to the latest data from Statistics Mauritius, total export proceeds for the year 2022 were valued at MUR 101,680 million, representing an increase of 24% over the 2021 figure, thanks to increases in “food and live animals" (+22.6%), “manufactured goods classified chiefly by material" (+18.6%) and “miscellaneous manufactured articles" (+12.7%). In the same year, imports reached MUR 292,429 million (+36.1% y-o-y). Overall, the trade deficit for the year 2022 stood at MUR 190,749 million, around 43.6% higher than the 2021 deficit.
Foreign Trade Indicators | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Imports of Goods (million USD) | 5,254 | 5,661 | 5,596 | 4,234 | 5,142 |
Exports of Goods (million USD) | 2,342 | 2,366 | 2,223 | 1,791 | 1,964 |
Imports of Services (million USD) | 2,171 | 2,144 | 2,113 | 1,311 | 1,430 |
Exports of Services (million USD) | 3,017 | 3,214 | 2,944 | 1,298 | 1,233 |
Imports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 2 | -0 | 2 | -29 | 8 |
Exports of Goods and Services (Annual % Change) | 1 | 1 | -4 | -28 | 12 |
Trade Balance (million USD) | -2,648 | -3,015 | -3,071 | -2,126 | -2,688 |
Foreign Trade (in % of GDP) | 101 | 98 | 96 | 86 | 98 |
Imports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 53 | 52 | 52 | 47 | 54 |
Exports of Goods and Services (in % of GDP) | 48 | 46 | 44 | 39 | 44 |
Source: WTO – World Trade Organisation ; World Bank - Latest available data.
Main Customers (% of Exports) |
2022 |
---|---|
South Africa | 13.4% |
France | 12.9% |
Madagascar | 9.0% |
United Kingdom | 8.6% |
United States | 8.0% |
Spain | 6.5% |
Vietnam | 4.5% |
Netherlands | 3.9% |
Italy | 3.4% |
India | 3.1% |
Kenya | 3.1% |
Belgium | 2.3% |
Germany | 1.6% |
Switzerland | 1.5% |
Seychelles | 1.5% |
United Arab Emirates | 1.3% |
Thailand | 0.9% |
Portugal | 0.8% |
China | 0.8% |
Singapore | 0.8% |
See More Countries | 48.1% |
Main Suppliers (% of Imports) |
2022 |
---|---|
China | 16.1% |
India | 9.8% |
South Africa | 9.1% |
United Arab Emirates | 9.0% |
Oman | 8.3% |
France | 5.6% |
Belgium | 2.2% |
Germany | 2.2% |
United States | 2.1% |
Italy | 2.1% |
Japan | 2.0% |
Spain | 1.9% |
Türkiye | 1.9% |
Malaysia | 1.8% |
Indonesia | 1.8% |
Australia | 1.7% |
Thailand | 1.6% |
Argentina | 1.6% |
United Kingdom | 1.4% |
New Zealand | 1.3% |
See More Countries | 47.8% |
Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data
Source: Comtrade, Latest Available Data
To go further, check out our service Import Export Flows
3.2 bn USD of services exported in 2018 | |
---|---|
59.36% | |
Personal travelPersonal travel | 40.30% |
Business travelBusiness travel | 19.05% |
17.39% | |
Miscellaneous business,...Miscellaneous business, professional, and technical services | 17.39% |
12.94% | |
Air transportAir transport | 9.37% |
PassengerPassenger | 8.50% |
FreightFreight | 0.87% |
4.42% | |
2.49% | |
Telecommunications servicesTelecommunications services | 2.35% |
Postal and courier servicesPostal and courier services | 0.14% |
1.70% | |
0.63% | |
Other personal, cultural, and...Other personal, cultural, and recreational services | 0.53% |
Audiovisual and related servicesAudiovisual and related services | 0.09% |
0.47% | |
Construction abroadConstruction abroad | 0.47% |
0.41% | |
Auxiliary servicesAuxiliary services | 0.41% |
0.17% | |
0.04% |
2.1 bn USD of services imported in 2018 | |
---|---|
31.26% | |
Personal travelPersonal travel | 29.04% |
Business travelBusiness travel | 2.22% |
29.51% | |
Air transportAir transport | 18.79% |
FreightFreight | 15.23% |
PassengerPassenger | 3.56% |
24.33% | |
Miscellaneous business,...Miscellaneous business, professional, and technical services | 24.33% |
3.27% | |
Other personal, cultural, and...Other personal, cultural, and recreational services | 1.77% |
Audiovisual and related servicesAudiovisual and related services | 1.50% |
2.92% | |
2.86% | |
Telecommunications servicesTelecommunications services | 2.45% |
Postal and courier servicesPostal and courier services | 0.41% |
2.65% | |
Auxiliary servicesAuxiliary services | 2.65% |
2.11% | |
0.68% | |
0.31% | |
Construction in the compiling...Construction in the compiling economy | 0.31% |
0.11% |
Source: United Nations Statistics Division, Latest Available Data
Member of Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)
Member of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
Member of Indian Ocean Rim - Association for Regional Cooperation
Click here for a comprehensive list of trade agreements signed by Mauritius.
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Latest Update: September 2023
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