Fuel Prices in Mauritius: What Drives the Cost at the Pump
As of late June 2026, a litre of petrol (gasoline) in Mauritius costs about $1.34 USD, which works out to roughly 64.31 MUR per litre or around $5.07 USD per gallon. Diesel sits a little higher at about $1.486 USD per litre. That places Mauritius at number 65 out of 170 countries tracked worldwide, slightly below the global average pump price of $1.484 USD per litre. In short, fuel here is moderately priced by world standards: not punishingly expensive, but far from the cheap fuel you find in oil-producing nations.
Why Mauritius Pays What It Pays
Mauritius is a small island nation in the Indian Ocean with no domestic oil reserves and no refining capacity of its own. Every drop of petrol and diesel is imported, mostly as refined product shipped in by sea. That import dependence is the single biggest factor behind local prices: when global crude and refined-product markets move, or when shipping and insurance costs rise, the island feels it directly.
The second major factor is the exchange rate. Because fuel is bought in US dollars but sold to motorists in Mauritian rupees, any weakening of the MUR against the dollar pushes pump prices up even when the underlying barrel price is flat. A stronger rupee, conversely, cushions consumers. This currency exposure is a constant background pressure for any small importing economy, much as it is for places like Turkey, where currency swings have repeatedly reshaped what drivers pay.
Taxes and the Price Stabilisation Mechanism
A large slice of the Mauritian pump price is tax and levy rather than the raw cost of the fuel. The State Trading Corporation (STC) is the sole importer, and the retail price is set administratively rather than floating freely. Built into each litre are excise duties, VAT, a contribution to the Build Mauritius Fund, a Road Development Authority levy, and a rebate that funds subsidised cooking gas (LPG) and rice and flour. This cross-subsidy is a distinctive feature: motorists effectively help keep staple goods affordable for poorer households.
The STC also operates a Price Stabilisation Account, which smooths the impact of volatile world markets. When global prices spike, the fund can absorb part of the shock so pump prices do not jump overnight; when prices fall, the account is replenished. This is why Mauritian prices tend to move in periodic adjustments rather than tracking the market day by day.
The Price Trend Over Time
Looking back over the decade from July 2016 to June 2026, the average price was about $1.139 USD per litre. The cheapest point on record was $0.81 USD on 11 July 2016, during a period of low global crude prices, while the peak hit $1.544 USD on 30 May 2022, in the aftermath of the global energy crunch. Today's $1.34 sits above the ten-year average but comfortably below that 2022 high, suggesting prices have eased from their crisis peak without returning to the bargain levels of the mid-2010s.
Compared with other small or developing economies, Mauritius lands in the middle of the pack. It is pricier than low-cost markets such as Nicaragua or fellow African nation Burundi in some periods, yet broadly in line with other tourism-dependent island states like Saint Lucia. You can compare its standing against the full global table on our world fuel prices page.
FAQ
How much does petrol cost in Mauritius right now?
Petrol costs about $1.34 USD per litre (roughly 64.31 MUR per litre, or around $5.07 USD per gallon) as of June 2026. Diesel is slightly higher at about $1.486 USD per litre.
Why is fuel in Mauritius more expensive than in oil-producing countries?
Mauritius imports all of its fuel and has no oil or refining of its own, so it pays world market rates plus shipping. On top of that, excise duties, VAT, road levies and subsidy contributions add a substantial tax component to every litre.
Who sets fuel prices in Mauritius?
The State Trading Corporation (STC), a government body, is the sole importer and sets retail prices administratively. A Price Stabilisation Account is used to smooth the effect of volatile global oil markets, so prices change in periodic adjustments rather than daily.