STC Launches International Bidding for 250,000 Bottles of Edible Oil

The State Trading Corporation (STC), a government entity responsible for securing essential supplies for Mauritius, has announced an international tender for importing edible oil. Interested companies have until June 17 at 2:15 p.m. to submit their bids. Bids will be opened on the same day at 2:16 p.m. at the STC headquarters in Ébène.

This process follows standard public procurement procedures. The STC reserves the right to reject any offer without explanation.

The move comes amid a slight slowdown in oil supplies over recent months, linked to a review of procurement procedures.

Defi Media source close to the matter explained that the same operators tend to win these tenders, but their prices do not necessarily decrease.

The STC aims to encourage new economic players and ease their entry into the Mauritian market.

While the STC has already imported some Smatch brand edible oil, supplies remain limited.

Currently, the corporation is covering about one-third of the market’s needs, with private operators supplying the rest.

To strengthen its market influence and help stabilize prices in a competitive environment, the STC plans to import bottled edible oil directly.

Instead of local bottling, the company will import pre-bottled one-liter bottles, a recent measure designed to streamline logistics and speed up distribution to retailers.

The expected volume for this quarter is between 250,000 and 300,000 bottles.

If approved by the board of directors at the end of the month, the cargo is expected to arrive within 30 to 40 days, depending on the country of origin.

Established by the 1982 STC Act, the corporation’s primary mission is to import essential products such as fuel, rice, flour, and LPG.

It also monitors other key markets and can intervene temporarily to correct market imbalances or prevent unjustified price hikes.

Regarding edible oil, where prices and availability are highly sensitive for consumers, the STC’s intervention aims to promote fair competition.

This effort is particularly important amid ongoing international inflationary pressures.

Source: Defi Media