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Promote:Mauritius

Export from Mauritius

A short guide for companies selling from Mauritius: the export figures, the agreements and their limits, the main steps and who can help, each with its source.

1. What Mauritius sells, and who buys it

Top goods exports

2025

  1. 1. Canned and prepared fish (HS 1604)US$252.3 million
  2. 2. Sugar (HS 1701)US$199.6 million
  3. 3. Other live animals (HS 0106)US$122 million
  4. 4. Men's suits, jackets and trousers (HS 6203)US$90.6 million
  5. 5. Knitted and crocheted fabrics (HS 6006)US$75.7 million
  6. 6. Frozen fish (HS 0303)US$62.7 million
  7. 7. T-shirts and knitted vests (HS 6109)US$53.1 million
  8. 8. Medical and dental instruments (HS 9018)US$49.6 million
Show 12 more products
  1. 9. Plastic containers and closures (HS 3923)US$31 million
  2. 10. Women's suits, dresses and skirts (HS 6204)US$29.8 million
  3. 11. Packaged medicines (HS 3004)US$25.6 million
  4. 12. Perfumes and toilet waters (HS 3303)US$22.1 million
  5. 13. Sweaters and pullovers (HS 6110)US$19.6 million
  6. 14. Men's knitted shirts (HS 6105)US$19.4 million
  7. 15. Copper scrap (HS 7404)US$18.6 million
  8. 16. Sports and outdoor equipment (HS 9506)US$18.3 million
  9. 17. Cotton yarn (HS 5205)US$16.9 million
  10. 18. Iron and steel scrap (HS 7204)US$15.2 million
  11. 19. Trunks, bags and cases (HS 4202)US$14.1 million
  12. 20. Women's knitted suits and dresses (HS 6104)US$12.9 million
  • Reported exports include re-exports, which Mauritius reported separately at US$419.6 million in 2025, 25.5 percent of the total, so some lines reflect goods that passed through. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)
  • Mauritius reports its own exports to UN Comtrade, and its latest annual report covers 2025, so this ranking uses reporter data. Source⁠ (opens in a new tab)

Source: UN Comtrade, Mauritius exports by product, 2025⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025

Where the goods go

2025, share of goods exports

  • France13.2%
  • South Africa12.5%
  • United States10.6%
  • United Kingdom9.7%
  • Madagascar9.4%
  • Spain7.1%
  • Netherlands3.9%
  • Kenya3.7%

Source: UN Comtrade, Mauritius exports by destination, 2025⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of 2025

2. What to look into next

Our reading

  • The research marks canned and prepared fish, men's suits, jackets and trousers and knitted and crocheted fabrics as lines a small or mid-sized company could be in. If yours is one, check which markets buy that line, not only Mauritius’s top destinations overall.

    Source: UN Comtrade, Mauritius exports by product, 2025⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of May 28, 2026

    Based on: Top goods exports

  • Women's suits, dresses and skirts grew 22% from 2024 to 2025; cotton yarn grew 20% from 2024 to 2025. A growing line can mean buyers are looking for more; confirm it with that line’s buyers before you plan around it.

    Source: UN Comtrade, Mauritius exports by product, 2025⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of May 28, 2026

    Based on: Top goods exports, against the year before

Promote:Global’s reading of the figures above, not a source’s statement, and not advice.

3. Trade agreements

What each arrangement can mean for a seller, and its limits. A preference is conditional: check the rules of origin before you quote.

  • African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

    Lets Mauritian goods that meet the origin rules enter participating countries at preferential duty, with an electronic certificate from customs.

    Duty-free treatment depends on the destination’s ratification, tariff schedule and readiness to issue certificates; confirm each market before you quote.

    Source: EDB, market access, agreements and procedures⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  • Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)

    Gives Mauritian goods duty-free entry to COMESA free trade area members, on a COMESA certificate of origin approved by the Trade Division.

    Duty-free entry applies only in members that take part in the free trade area; check your destination’s COMESA status before you quote.

    Source: EDB, market access, agreements and procedures⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  • Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Trade

    Gives Mauritian goods duty-free entry to SADC members that apply the trade protocol, on a SADC certificate of origin from customs.

    Some members have not yet joined the SADC free trade area; check the destination’s status.

    Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Mauritius, October 2021⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 5, 2021

  • COMESA-EAC-SADC Tripartite Free Trade Area

    Would add preferential access among 29 member and partner states for goods that meet its origin rules.

    Mauritius is not among the 14 states SADC listed as having ratified when the agreement entered into force in July 2024; check its status before you rely on it.

    Source: SADC, Tripartite Free Trade Area entry into force, July 2024⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of July 24, 2024

Show 11 more agreements

  • Indian Ocean Commission trade regime

    Gives Mauritian goods that meet the Commission’s origin rules duty-free entry to Madagascar, on a customs certificate.

    Rules-based preference; the EDB says free trade under this regime applies only between Mauritius and Madagascar.

    Source: EDB, market access, agreements and procedures⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  • Interim Economic Partnership Agreement between the European Union and Eastern and Southern African States

    Removes European Union duties and quotas on eligible Mauritian goods, under origin rules amended in March 2020.

    Rules-based preference, not unconditional market access; an enhanced agreement concluded on June 10, 2026 is not shown here as applied.

    Source: European Commission, Eastern and Southern Africa partnership⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  • Economic Partnership Agreement between the Eastern and Southern Africa States and the United Kingdom

    Gives eligible Mauritian goods duty-free, quota-free entry to the United Kingdom, under product-specific origin rules.

    Rules-based preference, not unconditional market access; confirm the origin proof your buyer’s customs accepts.

    Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Mauritius, October 2021⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 5, 2021

  • AGOA

    Lets eligible Mauritian goods, including apparel with a visa certificate, enter the United States duty-free.

    Eligibility is reviewed each year and the program runs to December 31, 2028; check current United States duties on your goods before you quote.

    Source: Federal Register, AGOA eligibility review notice, 30 June 2026⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of June 30, 2026

  • Mauritius-China Free Trade Agreement

    Gives Mauritian goods duty-free entry to China on thousands of tariff lines, on a certificate issued electronically by customs.

    Rules-based preference with product-specific origin rules; a list of sensitive products is excluded from liberalization.

    Source: EDB, market access, agreements and procedures⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  • Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement between Mauritius and India

    Gives Mauritian goods preferential entry to India, including quotas for special sugar, garments and rum, under product-specific origin rules.

    Rules-based preference; some products enter only within tariff rate quotas, and the economic cooperation chapter was not yet signed when the EDB page was written.

    Source: EDB, market access, agreements and procedures⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  • Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement between Mauritius and the United Arab Emirates

    Gives Mauritian goods preferential entry to the United Arab Emirates, with certificates issued by customs’ Origin Unit.

    Rules-based preference; check each tariff line in the agreement’s schedule before you quote.

    Source: EDB, market access, agreements and procedures⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  • Mauritius-Turkey Free Trade Agreement

    Gives Mauritian industrial goods duty-free entry to Turkey, with quotas at reduced rates for some farm goods.

    Rules-based preference; sensitive products are excluded from liberalization, so check your tariff line.

    Source: EDB, market access, agreements and procedures⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  • Mauritius-Pakistan Trade Agreement

    Lets Mauritian goods that meet its origin rules claim Pakistan’s preferential rates, with a certificate of origin from customs, as of the 2021 WTO review.

    The 2021 WTO review records Mauritius’s own concessions on 102 tariff lines, not Pakistan’s; check Pakistan’s schedule for your product before you quote.

    Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Mauritius, October 2021⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 5, 2021

  • Generalized System of Preferences schemes of Norway and Switzerland

    Lets exporters self-declare origin as registered exporters for Norway and Switzerland, after one registration at the Trade Division.

    Rules-based preference; confirm each scheme’s current beneficiary list and rules before you rely on it.

    Source: Commerce Ministry, list of export certificates⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  • Developing Countries Trading Scheme (United Kingdom)

    Mauritian goods cannot claim this scheme, because Mauritius is not on the United Kingdom’s list of eligible developing countries.

    The list is set in Schedule 3 to the Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018 and can change; check it before you rely on it.

    Source: Taxation (Cross-border Trade) Act 2018, Schedule 3, eligible countries⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

4. Steps to export

The main steps, in order, each with the body responsible and its official page.

Exporting from Mauritius

  1. Register the company with the Registrar, get a tax account number, then register with MRA Customs and as a TradeNet user.Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA)Official page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: MRA, tax basics for new companies, April 2025⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  2. Check whether your goods are controlled and apply for the export permit through the single window.Ministry of Commerce and Consumer ProtectionSame day when conditions are metOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Commerce Ministry, export procedures⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  3. Ask the National Plant Protection Office for a phytosanitary certificate if you export farm goods.National Plant Protection OfficeOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Agro-Industry Ministry, National Plant Protection Office services⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  4. Check national standards and product certification with the standards body before you ship regulated goods.Mauritius Standards BureauOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: WTO, Trade Policy Review of Mauritius, October 2021⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 5, 2021

Show 4 more export steps
  1. Apply for the certificate of origin that matches your destination agreement.MRA Customs, Trade Division, MCCI and MEXA, by agreementOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: Commerce Ministry, list of export certificates⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  2. Lodge the electronic export declaration before loading, through a customs broker or freight forwarder.Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA)Containers at the terminal 48 hours before sailing; air cargo 4 hours before takeoffOfficial page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: MRA Customs, export page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  3. Claim duty drawback on imported inputs within three months of the export entry.Mauritius Revenue Authority (MRA)Official page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: MRA Customs, drawbacks page⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

  4. Ask the EDB which export schemes you can use, such as the air freight rebate and credit insurance schemes.Economic Development Board (EDB)Official page⁠ (opens in a new tab)

    Source: EDB, market access, agreements and procedures⁠ (opens in a new tab) · as of October 31, 2026

5. Organizations that help exporters

Start with MRA and Statistics Mauritius. Each card links to the organization’s own site.

Each card says what it can help with:Get adviceFind financeMeet requirementsResearch markets

Export development and market information

Show 3 more organizations

Customs and tax

Standards and sector requirements

Show 1 more organization

Chambers and industry associations

Show 1 more organization

6. Worth knowing

7. How Promote:Global helps

  • Compare potential export marketsSee which markets import what you sell, ranked on public trade data, and read each country before you commit.
  • Check duties and document requirementsCheck the duty, the origin conditions for a preferential rate and the documents a shipment needs.
  • Find advisors and service firmsAsk an advisory firm a scoped, paid question, or browse firms that list their own services, from legal work to logistics.
  • Organize your next stepsKeep each product and market in a project, with a roadmap of steps you work through.

Turn this guide into your Mauritius project.

Use Promote:Global to explore markets, understand requirements and organize your next steps.

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Promote:Mauritius is an independent guide by Promote:Global, not an official government portal. The organizations named here are independent public and membership bodies, not Promote:Global partners, and every link goes to their own site.

Facts read from public sources, with an editorial cut-off of October 31, 2026. Nothing here is investment, legal, tax or sanctions advice. Check current status with the organization before you rely on it.