MCB Records 67% Surge in QR Payments as Cash Usage Hits 27%

Digital payments in Mauritius have seen a significant transformation over the past year, spearheaded by a massive 67% surge in QR code transactions. Data released by the Mauritius Commercial Bank (MCB) reveals that consumers are increasingly abandoning physical wallets in favour of mobile technology.

The shift is being driven by the central bank’s MAUCAS QR system and the bank’s “Juice” mobile application, marking a definitive move toward a “cash-lite” society.

The Decline of Cash

According to Stephanie Ng Tseung, Head of Payments at MCB, individual cash transactions fell from 30% to 27% by the end of 2025.

“The act of taking out banknotes is giving way over the years to digital payments,” Ms Ng Tseung stated during a press briefing in Port Louis.

She noted that while contactless card payments remain popular—accounting for more than six out of ten transactions—their growth has stabilised at 4% following a massive “take-off” during the pandemic.

Festive Spending Hits Record Highs

The digital trend was most visible during the 2025 festive period. Between 1 November and 31 December, MCB recorded 17.3 million transactions, a 13% increase over the previous year.

Key spending milestones included:

• Black Friday (28 Nov): 399,000 transactions totalling Rs 1.9 billion.
• Christmas Eve: The busiest day of the year with 461,000 transactions.
• New Year’s Eve: 414,000 transactions.

Total spending via cards and QR codes between 20 and 25 December exceeded Rs 3.5 billion, with the Juice app recording nearly 35 million logins during December alone.

Emerging Technologies and SME Inclusion

While QR codes dominate the growth charts, newer technologies like “Tap to Pay”—which allows for contactless payments via a digitised card in a mobile wallet—are in their infancy, representing just 1.4% of transactions.

To support this digital evolution, MCB is focusing on infrastructure and SME inclusion. By the end of 2025, approximately 18,000 merchants were equipped to accept cards or MAUCAS QR payments.

“Becoming cash-lite… requires multiplying acceptance points. It is an effort that must be supported by the entire industry,” Ms Ng Tseung added.

Consumer Trends: Local vs. Global

Despite the rise of local digital infrastructure, Mauritian online shopping remains dominated by international giants. A staggering 93% of online transactions were made on foreign platforms, specifically:

• Retail: Temu and AliExpress.
• Services: Apple and Netflix.
• Remittances: Orange Money, particularly via an active corridor to Madagascar.

In the physical world, consumers prioritised spending in restaurants, supply stores, and hotels, while sectors such as jewellery and clothing saw a slight decline.

International Travel

The data also highlighted travel preferences for MCB cardholders during the holidays. South Africa saw the highest average spend per client at Rs 71,000, followed by France (Rs 57,000) and the United Arab Emirates (Rs 52,000).

Source: l’Express