Every month, we invite you to discover a different space at L’Aventure du Sucre museum.

Today, we head to the “From the Sugar Industry to the Sugarcane Sector” section, where you can discover how an industry once made up of hundreds of sugar mills has evolved, over a century and a half, into a modern, integrated and sustainable sector.

From 259 sugar mills to a modernised industry

In the mid-19th century, Mauritius was home to 259 sugar mills, producing around 115,000 tonnes of sugar. Today, centralisation, mechanisation and technological innovation have profoundly transformed Mauritius’ sugar industry: three mills now produce around 250,000 tonnes of sugar, exported to around sixty countries.

This transformation reflects the importance of sugarcane in Mauritius’ economic history, as well as the sector’s ability to adapt and reinvent itself in response to economic and technological changes.

From gunny bags to bulk transport: a logistics revolution

The exhibition also explores how sugar transportation and storage have evolved over time. Until the 1980s, sugar was transported in bags made from natural fibres, known as gunny bags, which were handled individually and often carried by hand.

The introduction of bulk transport brought about a radical change. Large sugar storage facilities, conveyor belts and the modernisation of Port Louis harbour significantly accelerated operations. Today, modern packaging — from 25 kg bags to food-grade containers — meets the demands of efficiency, traceability and safety.

After the Sugar Protocol: a sector reinventing itself

The end of the Sugar Protocol in 2009, which had provided Mauritian sugar with preferential access to the European market for several decades, marked a new turning point for Mauritius’ sugar industry.

In response, the sector restructured and diversified through mechanisation, automation, the development of unrefined brown sugars and the move towards premium white sugars. This transformation helped the traditional sugar industry evolve into a truly integrated sugarcane sector.

When every part of the sugarcane becomes a resource

Today, sugarcane is about much more than sugar production. It is part of a circular economy model, where every part of the plant can be put to use:

• Unrefined sugars

• Bagasse and sugarcane leaves for generating green electricity

• Molasses for producing traditional rum

• Filter cake, vinasse and ash for producing natural biofertilisers

This comprehensive use of sugarcane illustrates the transition from a traditional sugar industry to a modern, diversified and sustainable sugarcane sector.

The locomotive: a reminder of Mauritius’ industrial past

It is impossible to tell the story of Mauritius’ sugar industry without mentioning the railway. Before the railway was developed, sugarcane and sugar were transported by ox carts. In 1864, two of the first railway lines connected Port Louis to Mapou and Mahébourg.

The network expanded rapidly and became an essential part of the sugar industry’s logistics. By 1913, Mauritius had 168 locomotives and 5,687 wagons, serving sugar mills, villages and the port. After a century of service to the industry, the railway was gradually replaced by road transport, with the last train journey taking place in 1964.

The steam locomotive on display at L’Aventure du Sucre is a reminder of this fascinating era. For an even more immersive experience, visitors can also bring the locomotive to life through an interactive game and sound its whistle!

A story that continues

From the sugar industry of the 19th century to today’s sugarcane sector, this space at L’Aventure du Sucre tells the story of a major industrial, economic and technological transformation in Mauritius.

Through machinery, artefacts, the locomotive and immersive displays, discover how sugarcane — deeply rooted in the history of Mauritius — continues to play a central role in a sector that is constantly evolving and looking towards the future.

With sugarcane, nothing is wasted: everything is transformed.

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