Customs confirms imports up by 27 percent in September 2022

According to Maldives Customs Service, imports inclusive of fuel increased by 27 percent in September 2022, amounting to MVR 4.4 billion.

Moreover, imports excluding fuel rose to 25 percent, which is a total of MVR 3.5 billion worth goods.

While imports registered increment, exports showed a decline of four percent which translates to MVR166 million.

Major import categories include;

- Fuel (diesel, petrol, aviation gas) - MVR 958 million

- Food items (excluding pork, alcohol, tobacco) - MVR 773 million

- Machinery and mechanical appliance (electrical) - MVR 738 million

- Base metal and articles of base metal - MVR 449 million

- Products of chemical or allied industries - MVR 229 million

Major export commodities;

- Skipjack tuna (stripe bellied bonito - frozen) - MVR 95 million

- Skipjack tuna (prepared or preserved) - MVR 33 million

- Yellowfin tuna (frozen) - MVR 8 million

- Flours, meals and pallets of fish - MVR 6 million

- Yellowfin tuna chunk (fresh or chilled) - MVR 5 million

Major importing countries;

- Oman - MVR 794 million

- India - MVR 627 million

- China - MVR 525 million

- UAE - MVR 438 million

- Singapore - MVR 392 million

From total imports, Oman covered 18 percent of the total while India covered 14 percent while China covered 12 percent from the total.

Major exporting countries;

- Thailand - MVR 84 million

- Germany - MVR 18 million

- UK - MVR 11 million

- Spain - MVR 8 million

- France - MVR 8 million

From total exports for the review month, Maldives exported 51 percent of its total export commodities to Thailand while 11 percent was exported to Germany and seven percent to UK.