Due to the country’s limited size – covering only 2,040km2 – and lack of large-scale economies, Mauritius imports many of its essential food requirements. Indeed, its overall self-sufficiency ratio is less than 30%.
According to Statistics Mauritius, total imports in all sectors amounted to Rs215bn ($5bn) in 2021, representing an increase of 29.8% on 2020’s levels. The trade deficit was Rs133bn in 2021, around 39.4% higher than in 2020. The deficit is forecast to reach a record Rs160bn for 2022.
For many Mauritians, a major concern remains the rising prices of commodities, now at a level not seen for a long time. The year-on-year inflation rate for the 12 months ending March 2022 was 10.7%, compared to 1% for the corresponding period in 2021.
Unprecedented inflation
“Price increases in Mauritius are something we haven’t seen for many years, at least not for the past 15 years,” says
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