Import volumes to the Maldives increased in the first quarter of the year, reflecting stronger domestic demand and a gradual stabilisation of supply chains.
Minister of Economic Development and Trade Mohamed Saeed said imports totalled USD 1.48 billion between January and March, compared to USD 880 million during the same period last year. He described the increase as an indication of rising demand for goods across the country.
The government has also taken steps to manage supply flows, particularly for essential commodities. Scheduled shipments have been arranged over the coming months to maintain petrol and diesel availability, as authorities seek to ensure continuity in fuel supplies.
At the same time, efforts are ongoing to address congestion in regional logistics networks. A backlog of containers previously held in Sri Lanka has begun to ease, with numbers declining from 4,241 last week and expected to fall further to 1,741 as shipments are processed.
Additional cargo is expected to support this reduction. A vessel currently at port is carrying 1,200 containers, while a further 2,500 containers are due to arrive within the week, including multiple shipments scheduled over consecutive days.
The developments suggest an improvement in supply chain conditions, with higher import volumes and reduced backlogs contributing to a more stable flow of goods into the Maldives.
