This is a best prospect industry sector for this country. Includes a market overview and trade data.

This is a best prospect industry sector for this country.  

Overview
Mauritius is a net food importer, with an overall self-sufficiency ratio of less than 30 percent.  Due to its limited size, the absence of economies of scale, and the comparative advantage of sugarcane in economic terms, Mauritius imports many of its essential food requirements.  In 2018, food imports accounted for $1.1 billion, representing 20 percent of total Mauritian imports.  France was the leading source of Mauritian food imports with a market share of 15 percent, followed by South Africa (9 percent), India (7 percent), Australia (8 percent) and New Zealand (6 percent).  Products imported include:  meat and fish; certain fruits (e.g., oranges, mandarins, and grapes); pulses; milk and dairy products; fresh and frozen vegetables; coffee, tea and spices; cereals; oil; beverages; wheat and food preparations.  Mauritius also imports some items for the production of animal feed, such as corn and oil cake and solid residues from soybean oil extraction, mostly from Argentina.

In the 2019-2020 budget speech, the government announced measures to boost the non-sugar agricultural sector. These include the construction of 100 sheltered farms for young agro-entrepreneurs, branding of Mauritian tea as a pesticide-free product, and consultancy services to advise local growers of flowers.  With regards to the sugar sector, the government is taking a series of measures including diversification to produce organic sugar and bioplastics, introduction of artificial intelligence and precision agriculture to reduce cost of production, and development of software to optimize the use of cane lands.  In June 2018, an Estonian company, REACH–U, came to Mauritius to carry out a series of demonstrations on the use of drone technology for surveying sugarcane fields.

A major issue in Mauritius is the excessive use of pesticides by farmers.  Over the past few years, the government has been supporting planters in a bid to promote organic farming.
 

Unit: USD Thousands

2016

2017

2018

2019 (Estimate)

Total Value of Local Agricultural Production

380,717

NA

NA*

-

Gross Output for Locally Produced Processed Food

608,697

561,641

NA*

-

Total Exports

806,049

828,314

734,061

770,764

Total Imports

1,074,103

1,201,158

1,127,868

1,184,261

Imports from the U.S.

5,984

6,519

6,525

6,851

Total Market Size

-

-

 

-

Exchange Rates

36.00

35.30

34.62

35.50

(total market size = (total local production + imports) - exports)
Data Sources: i) Statistics Mauritius, ii) Embassy Estimates for 2019
*Data for 2018 not yet available

Leading Sub-Sectors
Leading sub-sectors include:
·         Wheat
·         Crude edible oil
·         Corn and soybean residue for animal feed
·         Processed foods and inputs for organic farming
.         Agricultural processing technologies


Opportunities
Wheat
Mauritius traditionally imports wheat from France and Australia.  In 2018, Mauritius imported 128,151 metric tons of unmilled wheat valued at $32 million.  Mauritius imported 50,000 metric tons of wheat from the United States for the first time in 2007-8 due to a poor crop in its traditional markets.  There may be future opportunities here, but U.S. exporters would need to compete with French and Australian wheat, particularly in terms of price and freight availability.  Les Moulins de la Concorde, the only flour mill in Mauritius, has shown interest in U.S. wheat, particularly the Hard Red Spring and Hard White varieties.

Crude Edible Oil
Mauritius imports 100 percent of its edible oil requirements, traditionally from Argentina.  In 2018, Mauritius imported 26,957 metric tons of crude soybean oil, crude sunflower oil and palm olein, worth $21 million.  Of this, crude soybean oil accounted for 45 percent, sunflower oil comprised 33 percent,  and palm olein amounted to 22 percent.  There are two refineries for edible oil operating in Mauritius, which supply 90 percent of the market with refined edible oil.  The remaining 10 percent is supplied by importers of refined edible oil and sold directly to supermarkets.  The local refineries negotiate their purchase with large producers such as Nidera and Dreyfuss on a cash-against documents-basis.  To get a share of this market, U.S. suppliers must compete with Argentina and South East Asian countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia on price and freight availability.

Corn/Soybean Residue for Animal Feed
In 2018, Mauritius imported 113,029 metric tons of corn and 50,847 metric tons of oil-cake and other solid residues resulting from the extraction of soybean oil as inputs for its livestock feed factories.  The total grain requirement valued at $45 million is traditionally imported mainly from Argentina.  The two animal feed factories in Mauritius have indicated that they would consider imports from the United States if they were competitive in terms of freight and price.  U.S. trade associations, such as the U.S. Grain Council, would need to undertake long-term market development efforts with the local animal feed manufacturers.

Processed Foods and Inputs for Organic Farming
Food habits of Mauritians have been changing over the past few years with consumers placing more emphasis on quality and food safety.  The range of organic products and convenience foods available in supermarkets is expanding. Furthermore, concerns about pesticides are driving consumers to buy branded bio products.  This has led to a sharp increase in imports of processed foods.  There are thus opportunities for more U.S. processed food products to enter the market if they can compete with imports from South Africa, China, Malaysia and Europe.  Prospects also exist for procurement of organic farming inputs in light of incentives offered by Government to promote bio farming.  

Agricultural Processing Technologies
As an upper-middle income economy looking to move into hi-tech and value-added activities, Mauritius has potential to tap into opportunities offered by agricultural processing technologies.  The government is focused on revamping the agricultural and manufacturing sectors and has identified specialty processed foods as a potential area for export growth.  U.S. companies that manufacture agricultural equipment could find a market for their products, particularly in light of incentives like the recently announced investment tax credit of fifteen percent over three years for investment in high-tech machinery.  

Web Resources
Blueprint for a Sustainable Diversified Agri Food Strategy for Mauritius 2008-2015

Livestock Feed Ltd, Les Guibies, Pailles, Mauritius. Tel: +230 286 1112; Fax: +230 286 1114.

Mr. Phillipe Lahausse de Lalouvière, Managing Director, Les Moulins de la Concorde Ltee (flourmill), Cargo Peninsula, Port Louis, Mauritius. Tel: +230 217-9100; Fax: +230 240-8171; Email:  lmlc@eclosia.com.

Mr. Chad Weigand, Assistant Regional Director for Sub-Saharan Africa, U.S. Wheat Associates, Cape Town Office; Tel: +27 21 418-3710; Fax: +27 21 419-0400 2380 3138; Email: InfoCPT@uswheat.org.

http://www.moroil.mu, Quay Road, Port Louis, Mauritius. Tel: +230 206-9800; Fax: +230 240-8320; Email: moroil@intnet.mu.

https://www.meadersfeeds.com, Riche Terre, Mauritius. Tel: +230 249-3860; Fax: +230 248-1837; Email: meaders@intnet.mu.

National Export Strategy, Agro-Processing Sector

Statistics Mauritius - Agriculture

Government Information Service

 

Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad. With its network of 108 offices across the United States and in more than 75 countries, the U.S. Commercial Service of the U.S. Department of Commerce utilizes its global presence and international marketing expertise to help U.S. companies sell their products and services worldwide. Locate the U.S. Commercial Service trade specialist in the U.S. nearest you by visiting http://export.gov/usoffices.