Mauritius Wholesale Market Changes Hours Amid Unrest
The National Wholesale Market at Belle-Rive has new temporary operating hours for deliveries, buyer access and fruit and vegetable auctions.
The National Wholesale Market at Five Ways, Belle-Rive, has been operating under temporary arrangements since Thursday 15 October, following the recent unrest in Mauritius. The new schedule, announced by the Agricultural Marketing Board (AMB), covers delivery times, buyer access and auction hours for fruits and vegetables.
The AMB is the government body responsible for regulating the marketing and distribution of agricultural produce in Mauritius. Its National Wholesale Market is the central hub where farmers, suppliers and traders exchange fresh produce that then reaches retailers and consumers across the island.
Under the temporary arrangements, deliveries to the market are permitted from 6:00 AM to 2:45 PM on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Buyers are allowed entry between 7:00 AM and noon on those same days, while auctions for fruits and vegetables run from 7:15 AM to 1:00 PM. The market closes fully at 3:00 PM.
Wednesday and Sunday operate differently. On Wednesdays, only the receipt of goods is allowed, between 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM. On Sundays, goods can be received between 11:00 AM and 3:15 PM. No buyers are admitted and no auctions take place on either of those two days.
The AMB has stated that these measures will remain in place until further notice. The board has committed to communicating any changes, including a return to normal operating hours, as soon as the situation allows.
What this means: Anyone involved in buying or selling fresh produce at the Belle-Rive market, from smallholder farmers to large wholesale buyers, needs to plan around these revised hours. Arriving outside the permitted windows for deliveries or buyer access means being turned away. Retailers and market stall holders who depend on the wholesale market for their daily stock should factor in the tighter midday closing time for buyer access and ensure they source produce early in the morning. The Wednesday and Sunday restrictions are particularly significant for those who previously used those days for full trading activity. Consumers may also notice some short-term disruption to the availability or pricing of fresh fruits and vegetables at local markets and shops, depending on how long these temporary measures remain in effect.
Source: ION News
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the new opening hours at the National Wholesale Market in Mauritius?β
From 15 October, the National Wholesale Market at Five Ways, Belle-Rive operates with deliveries from 6:00 AM to 2:45 PM and buyer access from 7:00 AM to noon, Monday to Tuesday and Thursday to Saturday. Auctions run from 7:15 AM to 1:00 PM. On Wednesdays goods are received from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, and on Sundays from 11:00 AM to 3:15 PM, with no buyer entry or auctions on those days.
What is the Agricultural Marketing Board (AMB) in Mauritius?β
The AMB, or Agricultural Marketing Board, is a Mauritian government body that oversees the marketing and distribution of agricultural produce. It operates the National Wholesale Market at Belle-Rive, where farmers, traders and buyers conduct auctions and sales of fresh fruits and vegetables for distribution across the island.
Why has the National Wholesale Market changed its hours?β
The AMB announced the temporary schedule changes in response to the current situation in Mauritius following recent civil unrest. The measures are described as temporary and will remain in place until further notice, with the AMB promising to communicate when normal hours resume.
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