Wood in the rough market in Mauritius

Earlier Report Observations

From 2018 to 2020, the market for wood in the rough in Mauritius showed notable fluctuations. In 2018, local industry activity was buoyed by enterprises like Artisan du Bois aiming to double turnover through digital marketing and promotion of 100% Mauritian products, signaling growing local player ambition. The market volume expanded to 13.2 thousand t in 2019, then contracted sharply to 9.5 thousand t in 2020.

A government cash-back scheme introduced in 2021 to encourage local housing construction helped stimulate demand for construction materials, including wood. This contributed to a market recovery to 11.7 thousand t that year, supported by increased imports. However, the construction sector continued to face material price volatility, inflation, and logistical challenges, which likely played a role in the subsequent market contraction to 10.0 thousand t in 2022.

A significant shift occurred from 2023 as the local wood sector began structuring to produce wood chips for thermal energy generation, with integration into the Terragen power plant. This policy-backed diversification into energy use supported domestic production, which rose to 3.6 thousand t in 2023. Meanwhile, imports fell markedly, leading to a sharp reduction in total market volume to 5.8 thousand t. In 2024, the energy-use pathway continued alongside government housing and transport infrastructure initiatives, while import volumes showed some recovery.

Production wood in the rough in Mauritius

In kind, 2017-2020, t

Top producers of wood in the rough, 2017-2020

World map of production of wood in the rough, 2017-2020

In 2019, Mauritius produced 4 266 tons of wood in the rough, marking the highest output during the period. However, production fell to 3 248 tons in 2020, representing a 23.9% decrease from the previous year. Over the entire 2017-2020 timeframe, production declined by 23.4%, which translates to an average annual reduction of 8.5%. The largest year-on-year increase occurred in 2019, at 0.7%.

Annual dynamics of production in Mauritius in kind, 2017-2020, t

Exports wood in the rough from Mauritius

Exports in kind, t

Export volumes showed significant volatility during this period. In 2018, exports hit their lowest point at just 9 tons, representing a dramatic 95.4% decline from the previous year. However, they rebounded sharply in 2019 to 11 tons, marking a 27.8% increase from 2018. The highest export volume was recorded in 2017, creating a 22-fold difference between the peak in 2017 and the trough in 2018.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Mauritius in kind, 2017-2020, t

From 2017 through 2020, Seychelles was the exclusive destination for Mauritius's wood in the rough exports, consistently accounting for 100.0% of all shipments.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Mauritius in kind, 2017-2020

Exports in value, K $ US

Export values displayed considerable volatility throughout these years. In 2018, exports reached their lowest point at 19 thousand US dollars, marking a 46.4% decline. They then surged to 35 thousand US dollars in 2019, representing an 87.3% increase from the previous year. The difference between the 2019 peak and the 2018 low was 1.9 times.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Mauritius in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Throughout the 2017-2020 period, Seychelles remained the sole market for Mauritius's wood in the rough exports in value terms, consistently representing 100.0% of total export value.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's exports from Mauritius in value, 2017-2020

Imports wood in the rough to Mauritius

Imports in kind, t

Import volumes followed an unstable pattern from 2017 to 2020. The largest decline occurred in 2018, with a 71.6% drop, while the largest increase came in 2019 at 15.9%. In 2020, imports totaled 6 234 tons, showing a 30.6% decrease from the previous year. The overall volatility was substantial, with the highest and lowest volumes differing by 4.4 times.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Mauritius in kind, 2017-2020, t

Between 2017 and 2020, Mauritius's wood in the rough imports were dominated by three key markets: South Africa (51.9% of import volume), Madagascar (18.6%), and Malaysia (15.4%). Together, these three countries accounted for 86.0% of all imports by volume.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Mauritius in kind, 2017-2020

Imports in value, K $ US

After increasing for two consecutive years, Mauritius's wood in the rough imports declined in 2020. The highest value was recorded in 2019 at 5 564 thousand US dollars, following a 30.1% increase in 2018. However, imports fell to 3 554 thousand US dollars in 2020, representing a sharp 36.1% year-on-year decrease. Over the entire 2017-2020 period, imports decreased by 10.9%, with an average annual decline of 3.8%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Mauritius in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

From 2017 to 2020, Mauritius's wood in the rough imports in value terms were primarily sourced from three markets: South Africa (40.5% of import value), Malaysia (28.5%), and Madagascar (8.8%). Collectively, these three countries represented 77.8% of total import value.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

World map of product's imports to Mauritius in value, 2017-2020