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Mauritius: New Hub for Ships Avoiding Middle East Conflict
11 Apr
Summary
- Port Louis saw a 42% increase in vessel calls in March.
- Fuel loaded onto ships rose by over 50% in the same period.
- Mauritius experienced a similar rise during Red Sea Houthi attacks.
The island nation of Mauritius is experiencing a significant increase in its role as a refueling stop for commercial cargo vessels. These ships are actively avoiding routes through the Middle East due to the ongoing Iran war.
In March, Port Louis Harbor saw bunker calls rise to 294 vessels, a notable 42% increase from the previous month. Correspondingly, the volume of fuel loaded onto these ships jumped to 109,708 tons. This pattern reflects broader adjustments in global shipping routes.
Shipping routes are adapting not only to security concerns but also to shifts in demand for various products. Elevated fuel prices are contributing to atypical global shipments, altering preferred resupply locations.
Mauritius, strategically located on major Asia-Africa trade routes, previously saw a similar surge in bunkering between 2023 and 2025. This was attributed to vessels seeking to bypass Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.
While current demand is being met, with adequate storage primarily from floating barges, potential constraints on bunker supply could arise depending on the evolution of the Middle East conflict. The Mauritius Ports Authority has outlined plans for additional storage facilities in its 2024 master plan.
