Business updates

Total exports for the first quarter of 2016 summed up to Rs. 21.2 billion, representing a decrease of 5.9% compared to corresponding quarter in 2015. The fall in the value of exports of ‘Ships stores and Bunkers’ (-21.2%) as well as the significant decline in re-exports of ‘Telecommunication equipment and accessories’ (-57.7%) account for this decrease. It is worth noting that domestic exports amounted to Rs. 13.7 billion in the first quarter of 2016, representing an increase of 5.6% from its value in the first quarter of 2015.

Compared to the corresponding quarter in 2015, exports to our main buyers declined for U.A.E (-70.3%), United Kingdom (-2.9%) and Madagascar (-1.2%) but rose for Italy (+37.8%), South Africa (+26.5%), France (+14.0%) and U.S.A (+4.4%).  

Total imports dropped by 3.8% from Rs 38.9 billion in the first quarter of 2015 to Rs 37.4 million in the first quarter of 2016. Decreases were noted in the imports of ‘Mineral fuels, lubricants and related products’ (-26.2%), ‘Manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials’ (-12.4%) and ‘Machinery and transport equipment’ (-5.5%). For the same period, imports from our main suppliers fell for India (-15.6%) and China (-13.7%) but rose for France (+17.7%) and South Africa (+7.5%).

The trade deficit for the first quarter of 2016 amounts to Rs 16.3 billion, 0.9% lower than the deficit for the corresponding quarter of 2015. Statistics Mauritius estimates that total exports for the year 2016 will amount to Rs. 95 billion against Rs. 171 billion for imports, leading to a forecast of Rs. 76 billion for the trade deficit for 2016.

(Source: Statistics Mauritius Website)