Mauritius lowered its 2018 sugar output forecast for the second time in a month to 320,000 tonnes on Friday citing a weak harvest. The Chamber of Agriculture had lowered its forecast to 324,000 tonnes on November 6. "Climatic conditions have not been favourable in recent weeks," Jacqueline Sauzier, secretary general of the chamber, told Reuters by phone.
Sugar farming contributes about one percent of the Indian Ocean island nation's $13 billion annual economic output. Once focused on sugar and textiles, Mauritius has diversified into tourism, offshore banking and business outsourcing.