Mauritius Ports and Logistics: Building a Smart, Sustainable Gateway for the Indian Ocean

Mauritius is steadily asserting itself as a logistics and transshipment hub in the Indian Ocean, driven by strategic port upgrades and an expanding private sector ecosystem. At the heart of this transformation is the Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA), which regulates and controls Port Louis Harbour, handling around 99% of the country’s external trade and supporting imports such as fuel, food, machinery, medical supplies and consumer goods, while enabling exports including sugar, tuna and textiles. As MPA Chairman Maurice Allet notes, Port Louis “has emerged as a highly competitive port in the region,” reflecting its strategic location on major shipping routes.

The port authority is pursuing a bold master plan, with new projects that include an Island Container Terminal, a breakwater to create a calmer basin, and a 1.2km quay capable of handling up to 1.8 million TEUs, ensuring Port Louis remains a major transshipment hub. “Port Louis can capitalise on increasing trade between Africa, India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East,” Allet says, outlining the port’s evolving role amid shifting trade routes and larger vessels. These developments are complemented by digital modernisation, such as the Maritime Single Window and a Vessel Clearance System, which have helped reduce delays and improve cargo flow.

On the private sector side, Velogic Holding Company has emerged as the island’s largest logistics operator, offering end-to-end services from freight forwarding to warehousing and road haulage. CEO Vishal Nunkoo explains: “Our main advantage is that we provide the full range of logistics services under one roof,” enabling clients to outsource logistics while focusing on core business. Velogic also leverages Mauritius’ Freeport status to support regional trade, adding that the country’s port infrastructure must expand “to attract major shipping lines and enable more transshipment opportunities.”

Meanwhile, Groupe Roland Maurel is strengthening Mauritius’ maritime supply chain through its bunkering venture, which introduces “mass flow meter technology, the same used in Singapore,” to improve transparency and safety. The group’s broader vision is to make Mauritius a logistics and duty-free hub for global brands entering Africa, and to position the island as a future maritime refuelling centre.

Together, these public and private actors are driving Mauritius toward a resilient, digital and green logistics future, one designed to connect Africa, Asia and the Middle East with greater efficiency and reliability.