Mauritius: a strategic hub for shippers

26 June 2025

Are you looking for an efficient and reliable production site? Mauritius offers a strategic advantage for shippers. This tropical island in the Indian Ocean combines political stability with a well-developed infrastructure and attractive trade benefits. Thanks to its location between Africa and Asia, Mauritius is a smart choice for companies looking to optimise their supply chain.

Strategically situated island

Mauritius, an island in the Indian Ocean, is known for its strategic location and rich, cultural heritage. The island is currently home to 1,269,140 inhabitants and is situated between Africa and Asia, making it a prime location for international trade. Thanks to its open economy and favourable trade conditions, Mauritius offers endless opportunities for importers and exporters.

English and French are the official languages of Mauritius, with English being the language of communication for business transactions. This simplifies global trade and ensures seamless communication with partners and government agencies.

Mauritius has a tropical climate with two main seasons:

• The wet season (winter and early spring): Typically with high temperatures, increased rainfall and possibly tropical cyclones, which can affect air freight and sea freight.
• The dry season (summer and autumn): Milder temperatures and less rain create more favourable conditions for logistics operations and transport planning.

Sustainable export and import

Mauritius is very committed to sustainable production and innovation. The country promotes environmentally friendly initiatives and supports companies that invest in green technologies. This offers an additional advantage for companies that wish to reduce their carbon footprint.

Mauritius’ main exports and imports are:

• Export: Textiles, processed foods, animal products, materials for photography and medical equipment.
• Import: Mineral products, machines or semi-finished products, mechanical and electrical equipment, foods, chemicals, and vehicles.

Peak periods in Mauritius are between October and January. The trade flow remains stable during the rest of the year. This offers reliable schedules for you as a shipper.

Sea freight and air freight connections

Port Louis, the largest port in Mauritius, offers excellent facilities for container handling and other logistics services, making it an important gateway for international trade. Besides sea freight, the island also offers excellent air freight options.

The Sir Seewoosagur Ramgoolam International Airport (MRU) connects Mauritius to a wide network of airlines, including Air Mauritius, Air France, British Airways, Emirates and Turkish Airlines, Lufthansa, a South African Airways and numerous other airlines and therefore offers a multitude of options for fast air freight transactions. Because there are numerous pax flights to cater for the tourist industry, there is always excess airfreight capacity. As such there is no peak season as capacity is readily available all the time.

What’s more, Mauritius offers the option for sea-air transport, an efficient combination of sea freight and air freight. Goods are initially transported to a transit port by sea, from where the journey is continued by air. This method offers a significant reduction in transit time compared to traditional sea freight, while keeping the cost lower than that of full air freight.

Our agent Cargotech, based in Port Louis, plays a crucial role in managing these logistics processes. Port Louis, situated in a strategic location, not only offers access to the port, but also convenient connections to the air freight facilities at Plaine Magnien airport. This convenient location ensures fast document handling and short lead times, further enhancing the overall efficiency of the logistics process.

Your reliable partner, away from outside main ports too

As an experienced forwarder with more than 36 years’ experience, Ritra Cargo understands the complexity of international trade. We would be happy to take a close look at your specific business with you and provide you with no-obligation advice and possibilities for optimising your supply chain. Are you interested in the opportunities for importing from Mauritius? Contact us without obligation!