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The twenty imports Mauritius is best placed to replace.

Mauritius imported USD 4.5bn of manufactured goods in 2024 and exported USD 2.0bn. These are the twenty that sit closest to what it already makes well and where one country supplies most of them.

USD 317mthe twenty, imported in 2024
18products imported at scale, not yet exported well, and close to existing strengths
693products Mauritius already exports well
68product lines imported at USD 10m or more
The twenty

Demand, capability, exposure. Nothing else is claimed.

Each line shows the import bill, where it comes from, the nearest thing Mauritius already exports well, and how many countries make it. It does not say whether a plant in Mauritius would pay. That reason is not in any trade record, and it is the maker's question.

This edition is trade and capability only, scored out of 8. The UK edition adds which public bodies buy each product and which region holds the capability; those layers are built only where a country publishes contract awards and regional trade, and Mauritius does not publish them in a form this record can read yet.

  1. 1

    Footwear: n.e.c. in heading no. 6402, (other than just covering the ankle), with outer soles and uppers of rubber or...HS 640299

    Comes fromChina 71%, 49 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSports footwear: tennis shoes, basketball shoes, gym shoes, training... (exports USD 3m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 1m
    Countries that export it well16

    Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 21m, top 41 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 6 per cent (3); China supplies 71 per cent (2).

    USD 21mdown 7% on 2022
  2. 2

    Cement: portland, other than white, whether or not artificially colouredHS 252329

    Comes fromVietnam 38%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSulphur of all kinds: other than sublimed, precipitated and... (exports USD 4m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 458k
    Countries that export it well54

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 56m, top 13 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 12 per cent (2).

    USD 56mup 1% on 2022
  3. 3

    Cotton: not carded or combedHS 520100

    Comes fromBrazil 30%, 19 source countries
    Nearest export strengthCotton yarn: (not sewing thread), single, of uncombed fibres, 85% or... (exports USD 5m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 124k
    Countries that export it well32

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 36m, top 19 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 22 per cent (2).

    USD 36mdown 48% on 2022
  4. 4

    Aluminium: alloys, bars, rods and profiles, other than hollowHS 760429

    Comes fromChina 94%, 33 source countries
    Nearest export strengthAluminium: waste and scrap (exports USD 5m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 185k
    Countries that export it well31

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 22m, top 40 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 43 per cent (1); China supplies 94 per cent (2).

    USD 22mdown 9% on 2022
  5. 5

    Sanitary towels (pads) and tampons, napkins (diapers), napkin liners and similar articles, of any materialHS 961900

    Comes fromChina 55%, 30 source countries
    Nearest export strengthBrushes: artists' brushes, writing brushes and similar brushes for... (exports USD 13m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 94k
    Countries that export it well34

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 20m, top 46 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 40 per cent (1); China supplies 55 per cent (1).

    USD 20mup 28% on 2022
  6. 6

    Food preparations: sweet biscuits, whether or not containing cocoaHS 190531

    Comes fromMalaysia 18%, 44 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFood preparations: pasta (excluding stuffed), cooked or otherwise... (exports USD 10m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 69k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 27m
    Countries that export it well52

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 20m, top 47 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 21 per cent (2).

    USD 20mup 32% on 2022
  7. 7

    Wine: still, in containers holding 2 litres or lessHS 220421

    Comes fromFrance 61%, 34 source countries
    Nearest export strengthRum and other spirits obtained by distilling fermented sugar-cane... (exports USD 10m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 585k
    Countries that export it well21

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 14m, top 72 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 47 per cent (1); France supplies 61 per cent (2).

    USD 14mdown 12% on 2022
  8. 8

    Vehicles: public transport type (carries 10 or more persons, including driver), with only compression-ignition...HS 870210

    Comes fromJapan 78%, 10 source countries
    Nearest export strengthBicycles and other cycles: including delivery tricycles, not motorised (exports USD 4m)
    Exports of this linenone recorded
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 13m, top 75 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 49 per cent (1); Japan supplies 78 per cent (2).

    USD 13mup 82% on 2022
  9. 9

    Footwear: n.e.c. in heading no. 6403, (not covering the ankle), outer soles of rubber, plastics or composition...HS 640399

    Comes fromChina 41%, 47 source countries
    Nearest export strengthSports footwear: tennis shoes, basketball shoes, gym shoes, training... (exports USD 3m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 448k
    Countries that export it well26

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 12m, top 82 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 19 per cent (2); China supplies 41 per cent (1).

    USD 12mup 4% on 2022
  10. 10

    Plywood: consisting only of sheets of wood (not bamboo), each ply 6mm or thinner, with both outer plies of coniferous...HS 441239

    Comes fromChina 97%, 7 source countries
    Nearest export strengthWood: in the rough, whether or not stripped of bark or sapwood, or... (exports USD 4m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 9k
    Countries that export it well23

    Score 3 of 8: import bill USD 10m, top 93 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 41 per cent (1); China supplies 97 per cent (2).

    USD 10mdown 12% on 2022
  11. 11

    Insulated electric conductors: for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts, not fitted with connectorsHS 854449

    Comes fromIndia 54%, 46 source countries
    Nearest export strengthReception apparatus for television, whether or not incorporating... (exports USD 6m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 486k
    Countries that export it well35

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 13m, top 76 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 38 per cent (1); India supplies 54 per cent (1).

    USD 13mdown 16% on 2022
  12. 12

    Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, n.e.c. in heading 7308HS 730890

    Comes fromChina 56%, 40 source countries
    Nearest export strengthIron or steel: threaded screws and bolts n.e.c. in item no. 7318.1... (exports USD 2m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 3m
    Countries that export it well33

    Score 2 of 8: import bill USD 10m, top 99 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 37 per cent (1); China supplies 56 per cent (1).

    USD 10mdown 37% on 2022
  13. 13

    Sauces and preparations therefor: mixed condiments and mixed seasoningsHS 210390

    Comes fromThailand 21%, 52 source countries
    Nearest export strengthFood preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10 (exports USD 7m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 92k
    Countries that export it well45

    Score 1 of 8: import bill USD 18m, top 54 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 28 per cent (1).

    USD 18mup 26% on 2022
  14. 14

    Chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa: n.e.c. in chapter 18HS 180690

    Comes fromItaly 30%, 49 source countries
    Nearest export strengthPlastics: tubes, pipes and hoses thereof, rigid, of polymers of...
    Exports of this lineUSD 263k
    Countries that export it well35

    Score 1 of 8: import bill USD 17m, top 60 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 50 per cent (1).

    USD 17mup 42% on 2022
  15. 15

    Ceramic tiles: flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles other than those of subheadings 6907.30 and 6907.40, of a water...HS 690721

    Comes fromIndia 31%, 24 source countries
    Nearest export strengthRefractory ceramic goods: composition of which n.e.c. in heading no.... (exports USD 390k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 192k
    Countries that export it well16

    Score 1 of 8: import bill USD 14m, top 71 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 46 per cent (1).

    USD 14mup 17% on 2022
  16. 16

    Furniture: wooden, other than for office, kitchen or bedroom useHS 940360

    Comes fromIndonesia 31%, 54 source countries
    Nearest export strengthBuildings: prefabricated, not of wood (exports USD 1m)
    Exports of this lineUSD 233k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 15m
    Countries that export it well30

    Score 1 of 8: import bill USD 12m, top 85 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 35 per cent (1).

    USD 12mup 45% on 2022
  17. 17

    Glass: carboys, bottles, flasks, jars, pots, phials and other containers of glass, (not ampoules), used for the...HS 701090

    Comes fromIndonesia 24%, 34 source countries
    Nearest export strengthGlass: safety glass, laminated, (not of a size and shape suitable... (exports USD 439k)
    Exports of this lineUSD 107k
    Countries that export it well38

    Score 1 of 8: import bill USD 11m, top 88 per cent of candidates (0); proximity to Mauritius's export strengths in the top 34 per cent (1).

    USD 11mdown 14% on 2022

One line per customs heading. Products Mauritius already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.

Made here already, still imported

Scale conversations, not capability ones.

  • Food preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10 imports USD 58m, exports USD 7m, top source South Africa 21%
  • Reception apparatus for television, whether or not incorporating... imports USD 34m, exports USD 6m, top source China 46%
  • Aluminium: alloys, hollow profiles imports USD 28m, exports USD 1m, top source China 98%
  • Cigarettes: containing tobacco imports USD 30m, exports USD 4m, top source Kenya 38%
  • Waters: including mineral and aerated, containing added sugar or other... imports USD 25m, exports USD 2m, top source South Africa 40%
  • Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), single, of combed fibres, 85% or more by... imports USD 20m, exports USD 5m, top source India 97%
  • Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), single, of combed fibres, 85% or more by... imports USD 17m, exports USD 2m, top source India 96%
  • Perfumes and toilet waters imports USD 34m, exports USD 21m, top source France 42%
  • Mechanical shovels, excavators and shovel loaders: n.e.c. in item no. 8429.50 imports USD 12m, exports USD 1m, top source India 35%
  • Iron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, plated or coated... imports USD 11m, exports USD 514k, top source Indonesia 88%
How the twenty were chosen

Three scores, each from a field the record carries.

Import bill, 0 to 3, by percentile among the 68 lines imported at USD 10m or more: above the median one point, top quarter two, top tenth three.

Proximity to export strengths, 0 to 3, on the same percentiles: the product-space method (Hidalgo, Klinger, Barabasi and Hausmann, Science 2007) on CEPII's BACI file of every bilateral trade flow for 2024, 157 countries and 5,388 products. Two products are close when the countries that export one well tend to export the other well. Only products in the upper half for proximity can enter the list at all: best placed is a proximity claim.

Supply concentration, 0 to 2: one point when a single country supplies 40 per cent or more, two at 60 per cent.

Scope. Manufactured goods, customs chapters 16 to 96, excluding ores, fuels and precious metals. Primary agriculture is out of scope for a page about manufacture.

What it cannot tell you

A map of where to look.

Trade data says what crossed the border, not why. Cost, scale, patents, tariffs and the plain fact that a supplier is good at it are all invisible here. The world file reconciles what each pair of countries reports, so a national customs file would differ in detail. Nothing on this page is a forecast or a promise.

Source: CEPII BACI, HS22, version 202601, years 2022 to 2024. Edition of 2026-11-02. The UK edition with its procurement and regional layers is at /made-here/.

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