Mauritius 2019 sugar output seen rising slightly-industry body

PORT LOUIS (Reuters) - Mauritius sugar production is expected to rise 0.4% this year to 325,000 tonnes on the back of good weather, the Indian Ocean island’s Chamber of Agriculture said on Friday.

Sugar, once a pillar of Mauritius’ economy, now contributes about 0.4% of Mauritius’ $14 billion gross domestic product.

“Overall climatic conditions in terms of rainfall and sunshine have been favorable to the growth of the sugar cane plant between October and April,” the chamber said in a statement.

Mauritius produced 323,406 tonnes of sugar in 2018.

Once focused on sugar and textiles, Mauritius has diversified into tourism, offshore banking and business outsourcing to cement its reputation as one of Africa’s most stable and prosperous economies.

(Reporting by Jean Paul Arouff; Editing by George Obulutsa and Frances Kerry)