What is the value of India-Mauritania trade?

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, total trade was US$ 137.46 million in 2024-25 and US$ 179.53 million in 2025-26 (Apr-Dec 2025).

Which Indian investments are there in Mauritania?

An Agreement on phosphate mine development, estimated at approximately US$2 billion, was signed on 16 October 2024, and M/s. Essar Group was awarded the Askaf iron ore mining project in March 2025, with nearly USD 800 million of investment envisaged.

India and Mauritania: trade, investment and development

Q: Has India given Mauritania a line of credit?

India extended a Line of Credit aggregating US$ 21.8 million towards a milk processing plant and drinking water projects; USD16.1 million was disbursed and the project was completed in 2016-17.

This article covers economic relations between India and Mauritania: trade figures year by year, the main goods traded, Indian investment in phosphate and iron ore mining, the sectors the brief identifies for investment, and India's development partnership, including a line of credit and training. It draws on the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) brief dated 10 April 2026.

Trade figures

According to the MEA brief of April 2026, trade between India and Mauritania has been as follows, in US$ million, with figures taken from the tradestat database:

2017-18: India's exports 83.16; India's imports 5.45; total trade 88.61
2018-19: India's exports 115.59; India's imports 15.77; total trade 131.36
2019-20: India's exports 83.83; India's imports 10.70; total trade 94.53
2020-21: India's exports 88.92; India's imports 5.49; total trade 94.41
2021-22: India's exports 96.90; India's imports 12.02; total trade 108.91
2022-23: India's exports 146.57; India's imports 231.68; total trade 378.24
2023-24: India's exports 96.38; India's imports 19.16; total trade 115.54
2024-25: India's exports 114.83; India's imports 22.63; total trade 137.46
2025-26 (Apr-Dec 2025): India's exports 117.46; India's imports 62.07; total trade 179.53

Goods traded

India's main exports to Mauritania are cereals and related products, pharma, plastic products, cotton, ceramic, iron and steel articles, boilers and related mechanical appliances, electrical and chemical products, and non-railway vehicles. Mauritania's main exports to India include iron and steel, copper, aluminium and electrical machinery.

Across all its trading partners, the brief lists Mauritania's major exports as iron ore, fish and fish products, gold and copper, and its major imports as machinery and equipment, petroleum products, capital goods, foodstuffs and consumer goods.

Indian investment in mining

Immediately after the visit of the President of India in October 2024, an Agreement on phosphate mine development in Mauritania was signed between an Indian entity and a Mauritanian entity on 16 October 2024. The brief states that the entire phosphate mine development deal is estimated at approximately US$2 billion and that the development could run to decades.

In March 2025, M/s. Essar Group was awarded the Askaf iron ore mining project. The project envisages a total investment of nearly USD 800 million by the Essar group.

Indian business presence

Indian companies have a presence in mining, vehicles, fishing, and iron and steel in Mauritania, and some are involved in project execution under international organisations. The brief notes that Indian origin commodities are commonly seen at market places, and that Indian fabric is particularly used for a popular traditional dress worn by Mauritanian women.

Mauritania has no known investment enterprises in India. The brief describes Mauritania as a least developed country (LDC) heavily reliant on foreign aid.

Sectors identified for investment

The brief states that there is vast potential for Indian investors in Mauritania, especially in hydrogen, solar and wind energy, hydrocarbons, oil exploration, fishing, mining, phosphate, gold, iron ore, lithium, uranium, agriculture, pharmaceuticals, machinery, human resource development and power generation.

In mining, the brief says Mauritania has more than 900 mining and mineral indices listed, particularly for iron, copper, gold, phosphate, quartz, diamond, chromium, gypsum, manganese, lithium, lead, zinc, uranium, platinum group elements, rare earths, black sands, salts and peats.

Development partnership

India has extended a Line of Credit (LOC) of value aggregating US$ 21.8 million to Mauritania towards agro-industries (a milk processing plant) and drinking water projects. Of this, USD16.1 million was disbursed, and the project was completed in 2016-17.

Training under ITEC and SSIFS

The number of Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) slots offered to Mauritania for 2025-26 is 7: two for defence and five civilian. During FY 2025-2026, three Mauritanian candidates attended ITEC courses.

Two candidates attended the Professional Course for Foreign Diplomats (PCFD) conducted by the Sushma Swaraj Institute of Foreign Service (SSIFS) in 2024 and 2025. One candidate attended the 4th Global South Young Diplomats Forum, organised by SSIFS from 16-27 February 2026.