Mauritius trade deficit widens 44.8% in March

Mauritius' trade deficit widened sharply year-on-year in March, due mainly to rising fuel costs on the import-dependent Indian Ocean island, official data showed on Thursday.

The deficit -- which widened throughout 2010 -- increased by 44.8 percent against March 2010 last year to 7.4 billion rupees, the Central Statistics Office said.

Mauritius' year-on-year import costs rose 29.8 percent to 13.6 billion rupees driven by mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials which rose to 4.8 billion rupees from 1.6 billion a year earlier.

Exports increased 15.5 percent to 6.2 billion rupees, helped by revenues from the export of food and live animals, including monkeys for scientific research, and manufactured articles including clothing.

Britain was the main buyer of goods from Mauritius in March, accounting for 19.5 percent of its exports, while India supplied 37.1 percent of the island's imports.

Mauritius' trade deficit widened 17 percent to 66.528 billion rupees in 2010 as rising imports outstripped growth in exports.