Fish exports continue to decline

Oct 23, 2023, 9:19 AM
Fishermen. -- Photo: MIFCO

Fishermen. -- Photo: MIFCO

Fish exports from the Maldives continued to decline in September.

Fish is the country's main export. Last month's statistics released by Customs show the value of fish exports was only MVR 86 million, down 43 percent compared to September last year.

Export statistics for this year:

  • February - MVR 231 million
  • March - MVR 344 million
  • April - MVR 193 million
  • May - MVR 285 million
  • June - MVR 261 million
  • July - MVR 138 million
  • August - MVR 93 million
  • September - MVR 86 million

The main exported items last month were frozen fish and processed fish worth a combined MVR 69 million. The top destination countries were Thailand, UK and France.

Goods worth MVR 4.3 billion were imported during September, down three percent from the same period last year, the statistics show.

Oil was the top import last month, accounting for MVR 1.071 billion, followed by MVR 734 million worth of foodstuff and MVR 686 million worth of electronic equipment and machinery. Oman, India and UAE were the top source countries for imports. 

Customs collected MVR 360 million as export-import revenue in September, which was three percent higher than in September 2022.

During the month, 103 cargo ships arrived in the Maldives and 105 ships departed with goods.

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