Business updates

According to the latest figures released by Statistics Office, total exports for the first quarter of 2017 amounted to Rs 19 billion, 6.0% less compared to the corresponding quarter of 2016. This drop is mainly explained by the decreases in our main domestic exports mainly Garments, Processed Fish and Medical devices and also because of substantial drop of 91% in the re-exports of mobile phones by Freeport operators.

When compared over the first quarter 2016, total exports of ‘Garments’ (Chapters 61 and 62) decreased from Rs 5.6 billion in the first quarter of 2016 to Rs 4.5 billion in the first quarter of 2017 representing a drop of 20%.  A slight decrease of 5% can also be noted in the total exports of ‘Processed fish’ which accounted to Rs 2.0 billion in first quarter of 2017. Total exports of ‘Medical devices’ dropped from Rs 260 million to Rs 171 million in the first quarter of 2017 representing a decrease of 34% when compared to the corresponding quarter of 2016. In contrast, total exports of ‘Sugar’ increased by 15% during the first quarter of 2017 when compared to the same period in 2016.

Total imports for the first quarter of 2017 amounted to Rs 41 billion, showing a decrease of 10.3% over the previous quarter. During the first quarter of 2017, imports originated mainly from India (17.0%), China (13.4%), South Africa (7.5%) and France (7.4%).

Statistics Mauritius has forecasted total exports for 2017 at around Rs 87 billion and imports at Rs 181 billion.

The full report can be downloaded from the website of Statistics Mauritius on:

http://statsmauritius.govmu.org/English/Publications/Pages/Ext_Trade_1Qtr17.aspx