Mauritius Fuel Prices Rise: Petrol at Rs 77.70, Diesel Rs 78.35

Mauritius has announced new fuel prices following the latest review by the country's pricing authorities, with both petrol and diesel seeing increases at the pump. Petrol (essence) will now cost **Rs 77.70 per litre**, while diesel has been set at **Rs 78.35 per litre** — making diesel marginally more expensive than petrol under the new pricing structure. **How fuel pricing works in Mauritius** Fuel prices in Mauritius are not set by the free market. They are regulated by the government and reviewed periodically by the **State Trading Corporation (STC)**, the state-owned body responsible for importing petroleum products into the island. The STC buys fuel on international markets and the government sets the retail price consumers pay at petrol stations, factoring in global oil prices, the rupee-dollar exchange rate, and various taxes and levies. This means pump prices can remain stable for weeks or months, then shift — sometimes significantly — when a review takes place. **Why does this matter?** Fuel prices have a knock-on effect across the Mauritian economy. Higher diesel costs directly affect the price of goods transported by road, public bus services, and industries such as fishing, agriculture, and construction. Petrol increases hit private motorists and small businesses alike. With the cost of living already a pressure point for many Mauritian households, any upward revision at the pump tends to feed through to wider consumer prices within weeks. **Who is affected?** - **Private motorists** face higher costs immediately at the forecourt. - **Businesses reliant on road transport** — including supermarkets, retailers, and logistics firms — may adjust prices to compensate. - **Public transport users** are indirectly affected, as the CNT (Central Transport Corporation) and private bus operators run largely on diesel. - **Fishermen and farmers**, who rely on diesel-powered equipment and boats, will feel the rise in their operating costs. **What this means** The upward revision signals that either global crude oil prices, the rupee's exchange rate against the US dollar, or both, have moved in a direction that makes the previous price level unsustainable for the STC. Consumers should expect the new prices to take effect at petrol stations across the island promptly following the announcement. There is no immediate indication of when the next review will take place. Source: Le Defi Media