Freeport and Logistics

The Mauritius Freeport was set up in 1992 with the objective of promoting Mauritius as a regional trading and logistics hub. At its humble beginning the Freeport provided basic warehouse for dry goods of 5,000 m2 that could capture “entrepot trade” only which stood at MUR 715 million and 20,000 tons in terms of value and volume of freeport trade performance.

Over the years, it has progressively evolved with specialized infrastructure being developed. Today 60 ha of land has already been declared with Freeport status based at the airport, port and Riche Terre. The Freeport infrastructure has reached nearly 400,000 m2 of built-up area on 46 Ha of land comprises of modern warehousing facilities, processing units, cold rooms, offices conforming to stringent international norms and standards.

Due to the spread of Covid 19, trade volume decreased to 258,972 tons in 2021, compared to 2020, which was 268,930 tons. The Freeport trade value has increased from 24.1 billion rupees in 2020 to 34.3 billion in 2021 which represents a 42% rise of in trade value.

As of 2022, there are 9 third-party freeport developers, three private freeport developers, and above 200 registered freeport operators, representing over 3,500 jobs. Top trading partners at import in 2021 were Taiwan, China, India, Singapore, and South Africa. Top trading partners at export in 2021 were South Africa, Madagascar, Reunion, United States and Taiwan. Top goods traded through the Mauritius freeport include live Animals, Prepared Foodstuffs and Beverages, Plastics, Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles and Base Metals.

The Mauritius Freeport is ranked Global Runner-up and No. 1 in Africa for the fDi’s Global Free Zones of the Year 2021 Awards published by the fDi intelligence magazine (Financial Times) on 14th October 2021.

For the 2021 awards, fDi Magazine, received applications from over 70 free zones, government entities and investment promotion agencies detailing their zone’s attractiveness, facilities and incentives offered to investors. The allocation of points was based on the response to specific questions related to strategy, covid response, infrastructure development and promotion of sustainability and ESG-compliant projects.

This prestigious international ranking confirms the momentum of the Freeport and Logistics sector followed by the global rankings of 2018 (8th) and 2020 (9th). In addition, this recognition further strengthens the competitive positioning of the Mauritius Freeport platform for the Eastern and Southern African region.

Despite the current international economic crisis in view of this pandemic, the Third Party and Private Freeport Developers have maintained several freeport projects as well as potential promoters in the logistics sector. The committed investments for Freeport & Logistics in terms of infrastructural development (warehouses, processing and industrial units, open air storage and offices) at the port, airport as well as Riche Terre are amounted to the tune of USD 230 Million for the period of 2020 to 2025.

Since its inception in 1992, the Mauritius freeport was aimed primarily at developing Mauritius into a competitive logistics and distribution hub for international trade. It has over the years grown into a thriving business platform and is home to global operators.

The high-quality service offerings provided by the freeport stakeholders, after nearly 30 years’ of existence, have contributed considerably towards shaping up the ideal logistics and value addition platform between Africa, Europe and Asia.

Strategically located, Mauritius is poised to become an integral part of the new economic architecture and shall place the Mauritius Freeport as the ideal logistics and value addition platform between Africa, Europe and Asia.

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USD 775 Million

Total Trade Value (2021)

0.7 %

GDP contribution (2021)

220

Freeport operators (2021)

135405 Tons

Import Volume (2021)

123567 Tons

Export volume (2021)

258972 Tons

Total Trade Volume (2021)

Investment Opportunities
Incentives
Guidelines
Freeport Communique
Freeport Developers
Sectoral Video
Port and Airport Development
Value Proposition

    • Freeport Operators

      A freeport operator shall be authorised to carry out any of the freeport activities specified in item 3 as follows:

      1. Warehousing and storage
      2. Breaking bulk
      3. Sorting, grading, cleaning and mixing
      4. Labelling, packing, repacking and repackaging
      5. Light Assembly
      6. Minor Processing
      7. Ship building, repairs and maintenance of ships, aircrafts and heavy-duty equipment
      8. Storage, maintenance and repairs of empty containers
      9. Quality control and inspection services
      10. Export and re-export oriented airport and seaport based activities
      11. Vault for keeping gold, silver, platinum, precious and semi-precious stones, precious metals, pearls, works of art and collectors’ pieces or antiques
      12. Security, courier, assaying or exhibition area, as the case may be, used wholly and exclusively for the items referred to in sub-item (11)

       

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    • Third-Party Freeport Developers

      Building, developing and managing infrastructural facilities, warehouses, cold storage, offices, exhibition centres, processing units and open storage, for rental to a freeport developer or freeport operator to carry out logistics services, marketing activities and holding of exhibitions, trade fairs and other events and the activities referred to in item 3 as per the second Schedule of the Freeport Act.

       

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    • Private Freeport Developer

      Building, developing and managing by the enterprise of its own infrastructural facilities, warehouses, cold storage, offices, exhibition centres, processing units, open storage, the carrying out of its own logistics services, marketing activities and holding of exhibitions, trade fairs and other events and its own freeport activities referred to in item 3 as per the second schedule Freeport Act.

       

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  • Incentives in the Mauritius Freeport

    All Freeport Companies benefit from the below fiscal and non-fiscal incentives:

    • Duty-Free and VAT free for goods and equipment imported into Freeport zones
    • 3% corporate tax
    • 100% foreign ownership
    • Reduced port handling charges

     

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    • Third-Party Freeport Developer

      The Freeport activities of Third Party Freeport Developer as per the provision of item 2 of the Second Schedule of the Freeport Act are as follows:

      Build, develop and manage infrastructural facilities, warehouses, cold storage, offices, exhibition centres, processing units and open storage, for rental to a freeport developer or freeport operator to carry out logistics services, marketing activities and holding of exhibitions, trade fairs and other events and the activities referred to in item 3.

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    • Private Freeport Developer

      The Freeport activities of Private Freeport Developer as per the provisions of item 1 of the Second Schedule of the Freeport Act is as follows:

      Build, develop and manage its own infrastructural facilities, warehouses, cold storage, offices, exhibition centres, processing units, open storage, the carrying out of its own logistics services, marketing activities and holding of exhibitions, trade fairs and other events and its own freeport activities.

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    • Freeport Operator

      The Freeport activities of Freeport Operator are as the provisions of item 3 of the Second Schedule of the Freeport Act

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    • Preferential Port Handling Charges

      Preferential charges are given to Freeport Certificate holders for Freeport containerized or bulk cargo imported by a vessel and exclusively meant for re-export. Preferential charges are also given on re-export of cars, fish and other general goods exclusively meant for re-export.

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    • Administration of Minor Processing

      Minor processing is defined as mere dilution of water or any other substance, cleaning, applying any preservative or decorative coating, trimming, unloading, testing, alterations or any other finishing operations.

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    • Vault Services

      Vault services is an authorized Freeport activity which has been included in the second schedule of Freeport Act to further develop the Mauritius Freeport and attract new investors to use Mauritius as a logistics platform to the region.

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    • 2018

      Freeport Communique 2018pdf icon

    • 2019

      Freeport Communique 2019pdf icon

    • 2021

      Freeport Communique 2021pdf icon

  • Third Party Freeport Developers
    Freeport Developer Contact Person Email Phone Number Website
    Mauritius Freeport
    Development Ltd    		 Mr Hans Herchenroder hans.herchenroder@mfdgroup.mu
    sales@mfd.mu    		 +230 206 2000 www.mfd.mu
             
    Freeport Operations
    (Mauritius) Ltd    		 Mr Andre de Comarmond andre.decomarmond@velogic-mu.com +230 206 1000 www.velogic-mu.com
             
    BPML Freeport Services Ltd Mr Hans Mungtah info@bfslmauritius.com
    hans@bfslmauritius.com    		 +230 206 2739 www.bfslmauritius.com
             
    Froid des Mascareignes Captain Maurice Rault MRault@fdm.mu +230 206 6900 www.seafoodhub.com/en/fdm
             
    Mauri-China Free Zone Development Ltd
    (Freeport Zone 26)    		 Mr Gino Severe gino@australtransit.com +230 257 5901
    +230 249 2600    		 www.mauri-china.com
             
    MFD SKY (Freeport Zone 25) (Airport) Mr Hans Herchenroder hans.herchenroder@mfdgroup.mu
    sales@mfd.mu    		 +230 206 2000 www.mfd.mu
             
    Les Moulins de la Cite
    (Freeport Zone 28)    		 Mr Mahamad Alimamod John
    Mr Parvez Domun    		 john.alimamod98@gmail.com
    admin@lmcmu.com    		 +261340202222
    +230 5751 4455
    +230 5911 9336    		 https://lmcmu.com/
             
    Unity Logistics Ltd (Freeport Zone 27) Mr Rahul Sharma rahul@unityexim.com +230 5942 4888  
             
    Rose Palace Co Ltd (Freeport Zone 31) Mr Nawaz Sobany nawasob@internet.mu +230 2113000  
             
    Crystal Freezone Ltd (Freeport Zone 32) Mr. Mickaël Ingar m.ingar@ingar.mu +230 54996677  

    • Port

      The Mauritius Ports Authority (MPA) is the national port authority, set up under the Ports Act 1998, to regulate and control the port sectors in Mauritius. Its objective is to make Port Louis Harbour a modern port in order to maintain a high productivity and enhanced service levels at competitive rates. Port Louis Harbour plays a vital role in the national economy by handling about 99% of the total volume of the external trade.

       

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    • Airport

      AML, a wholly owned subsidiary of Airport Holdings Ltd (AHL), is ranked amongst the leading corporate entities among the Top Hundred Companies of Mauritius. The infrastructure for the Cargo, Freeport and Logistics Zone, planned and designed to international standards, has been implemented to provide serviced land for long-term lease to developers and operators.

      The Cargo and Freeport zone is in a secured area with internal road system for accessibility to individual plots & utility services and also has direct airside connections to tarmac. This offers both a secured and conveniently located base for operations.

       

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  • Freeport Value Proposition

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