Fuel Costs Hit Rs 16.45 Billion Despite 3.9% Import Drop

Mauritius saw its total import bill contract by 3.9 per cent during the first quarter of 2026, dropping to Rs 70.61 billion from Rs 73.47 billion in the same period last year, according to newly released trade data.

Despite the overall decline in import spending between January and March, massive outlays on fossil fuels continue to dominate the island nation’s balance sheet, comfortably outpacing expenditure on food.

Fuel and Food Dominate Bill

Petroleum products remained the country’s single largest expense over the three-month period, costing the state a staggering Rs 16.45 billion.

Fuel demands grew steadily as the quarter progressed, rising from Rs 4.95 billion in January to Rs 5.85 billion by March.

Food imports secured the second-highest spot on the nation’s invoice, demanding a total of Rs 14.88 billion.

Unlike fuel, food spending remained relatively stable, averaging just under Rs 5 billion each month.

By contrast, luxury spending on beverages and cigarettes accounted for a fraction of the national budget, totaling Rs 1.14 billion for the quarter—though March saw a significant spike in this category, jumping to Rs 614 million from just Rs 214 million in February.

China Emerges as Top Trading Partner

In a significant shift in trade dynamics, China established itself as Mauritius’s primary import partner for the month of March.

The Asian economic giant outpaced several traditional trading hubs to take the top spot, leading ahead of the United Arab Emirates, South Africa, Oman, India, and France.

Q1 Import Breakdown (Jan–Mar 2026)

The quarterly drop was largely driven by a sharp reduction in January imports, which fell to Rs 21.65 billion compared to Rs 25.95 billion in January 2025.

While February and March import figures closely mirrored or slightly exceeded last year’s levels, the slow start to the year ensured the overall quarterly bill remained firmly in the black.

Source: Defi Media