Maldives Import Export Data: 5 Surprising Trade Trends You Need to Know
The Maldives sells tuna and buys almost everything else. Its goods imports reached about US$3.6 billion in 2025, while goods exports stood near US$142 million. That gap, roughly 25 to 1, shapes every supply chain on the islands. For importers, exporters, and sourcing teams, this import export data shows what resorts, fishers, and households really buy. This blog covers top products, key partners, and five trends worth tracking.
Maldives’ Global Data Trade Profile at a Glance
Goods imports hit about US$3.6 billion in 2025, up 0.2% on 2024, according to DataVault Insights trade records. Exports reached US$142 million, a 53.5% rebound after a sharp slump to US$93 million in 2024. Even so, imports outweigh exports by roughly 25 times.
Tourism fills the gap. Trade in goods and services equaled 156.5% of GDP in 2024, and once services count, the balance turned slightly positive at US$62 million, according to the Lloyds Bank trade portal. Resorts earn the foreign exchange that pays for imported goods.
2026 shows fresh import momentum. Goods imports rose to US$356.8 million in May 2026 from US$305 million in April. Oman became the largest source that month at US$71.3 million, ahead of China (US$51.6 million) and India (US$48.6 million). Oil and gas took US$90.8 million, food US$61.5 million, and machinery and other goods US$59.4 million.
Fig 1: Maldives’ imports and exports, 2021-2025 (Source: DataVault Insights trade records, compiled)
| Year | Imports (US$ B) | Import Growth | Exports (US$ M) | Export Growth |
| 2021 | 2.5 | Base | 151 | Base |
| 2022 | 3.5 | +36.5% | 158 | +4.5% |
| 2023 | 3.3 | -3.6% | 162 | +2.5% |
| 2024 | 3.6 | +7.3% | 93 | -42.6% |
| 2025 | 3.6 | +0.2% | 142 | +53.5% |
What this means for business: the island market is small but dependable. Imports barely moved in 2025, yet they rarely fall far. Exports, by contrast, swing widely with fish catches and Thai canning demand, so exporters should plan for volatility.
Top Export Products from the Maldives
Fish dominates the export basket. Official data show fish products made up 93% of Maldivian exports in 2023. In 2025, frozen fish and tuna still lead at about 57% of export value. Prepared and preserved seafood follows at about 23%, and fresh and chilled fish at about 10%.
Fig 2: Maldives’ main export categories by approximate share, 2025 (Source: DataVault Insights trade records, compiled)
| Rank | Export Category | HS Code | Approx. Share |
| 1 | Frozen fish & tuna | 0303 | ~57% |
| 2 | Prepared & preserved seafood | 1604 | ~23% |
| 3 | Fresh & chilled fish | 0302, 0304 | ~10% |
| 4 | Dried & salted fish | 0305 | ~2% |
| 5 | Copper waste & scrap | 7404 | ~1% |
| 6 | Fish meal & feed | 0309, 23 | <1% |
Smaller lines add variety. Dried and salted “Maldive fish” goes mainly to Sri Lanka and India. Copper scrap from old resort generators and cables adds about 1%. Fish meal sells as animal feed.
Volatility is the main risk. Thailand bought US$120 million of Maldivian fish products in 2023 but only US$51 million in 2024. Buyers who value pole-and-line caught tuna therefore face uneven supply from year to year.
Top Import Products of the Maldives
Fuel leads imports. Mineral fuels and oil account for about 19.5% of import value, covering diesel for island power, aviation fuel, and petrol for boats. Machinery follows at about 9.6%, then electrical equipment at 7.8% and iron, steel, and cement at 7.5%.
Fig 3: Maldives’ import categories by approximate share, 2025 (Source: DataVault Insights trade records, compiled)
| Rank | Import Category | HS Code | Approx. Share |
| 1 | Mineral fuels & oil | 27 | ~19.5% |
| 2 | Machinery & mechanical | 84 | ~9.6% |
| 3 | Electrical equipment | 85 | ~7.8% |
| 4 | Iron, steel & cement | 72, 73, 25 | ~7.5% |
| 5 | Premium food & dairy | 02, 04, 22 | ~5.2% |
| 6 | Aircraft & marine vessels | 88, 89 | ~4.5% |
Resort needs shape the rest. Premium food and dairy take about 5.2%, while seaplane parts and marine vessels take about 4.5%. Official 2023 data put hydrocarbons at 22% and food at 19%, so fuel and food remain the twin pillars of the import bill.
Energy suppliers, construction material exporters, and hospitality food distributors therefore find steady demand. Imports also tend to rise whenever new resort islands open.
Key Trading Partners in the Maldives’ Import Export Data
China supplies 18.2% of imports, ahead of the UAE (13.8%) and India (13.5%). Oman follows at 7.5%, mainly with fuel. Malaysia provides 5.6%, the USA 3.9%, and Singapore and Sri Lanka 3.7% each. Asia supplies 44.8% of imports, the Middle East 22.6%, and Europe 8.4%.
Exports flow to a handful of buyers. Thailand takes 50.9%, mostly tuna for canning. The United Kingdom takes 19.9%, worth US$28.38 million. Vietnam (US$5.43 million) and Mauritius (US$4.14 million) follow.
Fig 4: Maldives’ import sources and export destinations, 2025 (Source: DataVault Insights trade records, compiled)
| Rank | Import Source | Share | Export Destination | Share |
| 1 | China | 18.2% | Thailand | 50.9% |
| 2 | UAE | 13.8% | United Kingdom | 19.9% |
| 3 | India | 13.5% | Vietnam | 3.8% |
| 4 | Oman | 7.5% | Mauritius | 2.9% |
| 5 | Malaysia | 5.6% | – | – |
| 6 | USA | 3.9% | – | – |
| 7 | Singapore | 3.7% | – | – |
| 8 | Sri Lanka | 3.7% | – | – |
The United States plays a smaller but telling role. It sold about US$117 million to the Maldives in 2025, led by natural gas liquids and aircraft parts, while buying only US$5 million. Studying partner-level import export data helps sourcing teams judge how exposed a supplier or buyer is to one market.
Trends and Opportunities for Importers and Exporters
- A huge, steady import market: About US$3.6 billion of goods arrive each year, with little downside.
- Volatile but rebounding exports: Sales jumped 53.5% in 2025 after a 42.6% fall in 2024.
- Fuel dependence: Mineral fuels take about 19.5% of imports, and oil and gas reached US$90.8 million in May 2026 alone.
- The resort supply chain: Food, equipment, construction materials, and seaplane parts all ride on tourism.
- Shifting fuel sources: Oman topped monthly imports in May 2026, while China still leads the full year.
Looking ahead, three signals deserve a place on every watchlist. First, monthly fuel imports, which track both tourism and energy prices. Second, Thai demand for tuna, which sets export swings. Third, new resort openings, which lift imports of food and building materials. Together, these signals show how the island economy breathes.
Readers tracking similar patterns elsewhere can browse the countries covered page. The World Bank’s WITS profile offers an additional benchmark.
Why Import Export Data Matters for Businesses
Reliable trade data does more than confirm what a country buys and sells. Sourcing teams use product-level figures to see where demand concentrates, such as the Maldives’ reliance on imported fuel. Exporters read partner-level figures to find who buys, and how concentrated that demand is. Pricing teams compare export and import swings to anticipate cost shifts before contracts renew.
Data also supports negotiation. A supplier who knows the main import sources can price against real competitors. A seafood buyer who sees Thailand’s share can judge how exposed supply is to one canning market.
In short, whether you are vetting a supplier, planning a market entry, or benchmarking rivals, global data on trade flows turns guesswork into a defensible strategy.
Conclusion: Explore Maldives’ Global Data Further
The Maldives is a small market with a very clear shape. Fish goes out, while fuel, food, and building materials come in. Tourism pays the bill, and trade partners cluster around Asia and the Gulf. Businesses that read the product and partner detail can spot openings early.
Explore more country profiles and product-level figures at DataVault Insights to build your next sourcing or export plan with confidence.