“Services have accounted for 74% of total exports over the past four years”

MCCI Export Insights 

• While recent developments regarding the renewal of AGOA are considered encouraging, the report stresses the need to reduce dependence on a limited range of preference-driven products.

• Financial services remain the largest contributor, followed by professional and management consulting services, and tourism-related activities.

With exports of services now accounting for nearly three-quarters of total exports, Mauritius is undergoing a structural reconfiguration of its export model. The Export Insights 2025 report, unveiled by the Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), provides a detailed assessment of this shift while identifying priority sectors, markets and policy directions needed to strengthen the country’s export competitiveness.

The Mauritius Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI) has launched its Export Insights 2025 report at a press conference in Port Louis, presented by Dr. Drishtysingh Ramdenee, Secretary General, and Rooma Pillay Narrainen, Head of Advocacy, who outlined the report’s strategic implications.

The report confirms a profound transformation in Mauritius’ export structure. While exports of goods have stabilised at around Rs 81 billion, exports of services have expanded sharply and now represent, on average, 74% of total exports over the past four years. This evolution, the MCCI notes, reflects both global trade trends and structural changes within the Mauritian economy.

“This report reveals a fundamental restructuring of our export model,” Dr. Drishtysingh Ramdenee said. “The analysis goes beyond the figures. It identifies strategic opportunities, high-potential markets and the sectors where Mauritius must concentrate its efforts to maximise its export performance. It also proposes a concrete framework to modernise our export ecosystem and better leverage our trade agreements.”

Goods exports: stability, concentration and gradual diversification

In 2024, Mauritius’ exports of goods amounted to Rs 81 billion, comprising Rs 61 billion of domestic exports and Rs 20 billion of re-exports. Five sectors continue to dominate the export basket: textiles and apparel (25%), fish and fish products (21%), cane sugar (13%), jewellery (4%) and medical devices (3%). Together, these sectors account for approximately two-thirds of total goods exports.

From a geographical perspective, Europe remains the leading destination with 47% of exports. Africa, however, has strengthened its position significantly, accounting for 28% of exports, up from 19% in 2015. Asia absorbs 14%, while the United States represents 10% of total exports.

The textile and apparel sector illustrates both continuity and change. While garments remain the principal export item, exports of fabrics have increased markedly, particularly towards South Africa and Madagascar. Mauritius has consolidated its role as a supplier of intermediate textile inputs, ranking as the second-largest supplier of fabrics to South Africa and accounting for a substantial share of that market’s imports.

The sugar sector has also undergone a geographical redistribution. Kenya has emerged as the leading export market for Mauritian sugar, followed by Madagascar, while traditional European markets now account for a smaller share. The fisheries sector remains a major contributor, but the report highlights a gradual move up the value chain through products such as fish oils, fishmeal and other by-products.

At the same time, emerging and non-traditional sectors now represent close to 30% of goods exports. These include plastic packaging, animal feed preparations, industrial alcohol, pasta and alcoholic beverages. Medical devices stand out within this group, with exports exceeding Rs 2 billion, largely destined for European markets, particularly France.

“Declining apparel exports to the EU over the past decade underline the limits of relying on historical strengths alone.”

Preferential markets: a strength that requires active management

A recurring theme in Export Insights 2025 is Mauritius’ reliance on its network of preferential trade agreements. Nearly 88% of goods exports are directed towards markets where preferential access applies. This framework has provided resilience and stability, but it also exposes exporters to policy uncertainty in key partner countries.

The United States remains a strategic destination, particularly for apparel exports under the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA). While recent developments regarding the renewal of AGOA are considered encouraging, the report stresses the need to reduce dependence on a limited range of preference-driven products.

In Europe, duty-free and quota-free access under the interim Economic Partnership Agreement continues to support exports of sugar, fish, medical devices and alcoholic beverages. However, declining apparel exports to the EU over the past decade underline the limits of relying on historical strengths alone.

Services exports: the main growth engine

One of the report’s key contributions lies in its integrated treatment of services alongside goods. In 2024, services exports accounted for 76% of Mauritius’ total exports of goods and services combined, confirming the country’s position as a net exporter of services.

Financial services remain the largest contributor, followed by professional and management consulting services, and tourism-related activities. ICT services, while still representing a modest share, are identified as a sector with strong growth potential.

“Africa already represents 28% of our exports, but the potential remains largely underexploited, particularly for services,” emphasised Rooma Pillay Narrainen. “Our emerging sectors are showing strong momentum. The challenge now is to consolidate the environment that will allow these dynamics to scale up. Diversification is no longer a choice; it is an operational necessity.”

The report adopts the World Trade Organization’s framework on trade in services, recognising four modes of supply: cross-border delivery, consumption abroad, commercial presence and movement of natural persons. Mauritius is active across all four, but the report notes that limited data availability constrains deeper market-level analysis.

A key finding is the absence of a clearly articulated national strategy for services exports. Current initiatives are fragmented, with limited coordination among institutions responsible for trade promotion, investment facilitation, skills development and digital infrastructure.

Africa: consolidation before expansion

The growing importance of Africa as an export destination is one of the most pronounced trends identified in the report. This expansion has been driven largely by preferential access under SADC, COMESA and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). However, exports remain highly concentrated, with South Africa, Madagascar and Kenya accounting for nearly 90% of Mauritius’ exports to the continent.

The report identifies significant untapped potential in East Africa and other sub-regions, both for goods and for services such as consulting, financial services, ICT, education and healthcare. Unlocking this potential, it argues, will require more targeted market intelligence, sector-specific strategies and stronger regional partnerships.

Three strategic priorities

In response to these structural shifts, Export Insights 2025 proposes a roadmap structured around three main priorities.

The first is a sharper focus on high-growth sectors, particularly services and value-added goods, with targeted support mechanisms rather than broad-based interventions. The second is deeper regional integration, especially in Africa, through sectoral strategies aligned with regional value chains. The third is the modernisation of the export ecosystem through digitalisation, automation and the strategic use of artificial intelligence.

The report argues that AI and digital tools should be embedded across export-related processes, from market intelligence and regulatory compliance to payments and data interoperability. This transformation, it notes, is particularly critical for small and medium-sized enterprises seeking to compete internationally.

From analysis to policy dialogue

Beyond its analytical content, the report is positioned as a working platform for engagement between the private sector and public authorities. MCCI officials indicated that Export Insights 2025 will be used to inform consultations with ministries and agencies, including in the context of forthcoming budgetary discussions.