Goods totaling MVR 12 billion imported so far in 2020

Maldives Customs has announced that goods worth MVR 12 billion have been imported into the Maldives so far this year.

Speaking in a press conference today, Deputy Commissioner of Customs Abdulla Shareef made the announcement that MVR 12 billion worth of goods has been imported into the Maldives by the end of April. He also stated that more than a million was received by the authorities as import duties.

“Even if the import of goods is lower, the import of commonly consumed food supply has been held at the same level compared to this period last year. Import has actually increased in some types of goods.” Said Shareef.

He stated that a 45 percent increase in the import of staples goods, a six percent increase in diesel and petrol as well as a five percent increase in the import of eggs was noticed by the Customs.

“Import has been reduced the most from goods such as pork, alcohol, and aviation gas. The reduction in pork and alcohol is because it is dependent on tourism. Since the tourist resorts are all closed, this is a believable change.

The number of exports by the Maldives has also seen a dramatic decrease of 38 percent. Customs stated that discussions were ongoing with foreign authorities to ease the process of exporting Maldivian goods to these countries.