Logistics services in Maldives.

Maldives logistics overview: modes, trade and gateways

Logistics services in Maldives center on sea and air connections. Male is the main seaport, with a cargo pier depth of about 15 m and direct calls by container shipping lines such as ANL, APL, CMA CGM, Emirates Shipping Line, Evergreen, Gold Star Line, Maersk, ONE, RCL and others. Air freight uses several airports with scheduled service, including Gan, Hanimaadhoo and Velana International Airports. The Maldives handled about 108,000 TEU in 2019, and air carriers moved about 29 million tonne-km of cargo in 2023.

Freight forwarders in Maldives need to coordinate through Male port and the main international airports, using regional liner networks reflected in a liner shipping connectivity index of 7.31 in 2021. With imports of about 3.6 billion USD and exports of about 444 million USD in 2025, many trades link to India, UAE, Oman, China, Thailand and Singapore, and SAARC membership can shape routings. The overall logistics performance index score was 2.67 in 2018, with customs performance at 2.4 and logistics competence at 2.29, so shippers may want forwarders who are strong on documentation and handover processes. Transit times reported in 2016 were about 6 days for exports and 9 days for imports, which sets expectations for door-to-door planning.

FCL and LCL shipping from and to Maldives runs primarily through Male, the main seaport and a very small World Port Index location with a cargo pier depth of about 15 m. Container throughput was about 108,000 TEU in 2019. Liner connectivity was measured at 7.31 in 2021, and several global lines keep offices in Male, including ANL, APL, CMA CGM, Emirates Shipping Line, Evergreen, Gold Star Line and Maersk, while ONE and RCL list presence in Maldives. The Maldives had 1 key port and 1 oil terminal, and a merchant marine fleet of 82 ships including general cargo and oil tankers, supporting both FCL and LCL movements.

Air freight in Maldives uses 7 airports with scheduled service, including Gan International Airport, Hanimaadhoo International Airport, Velana International Airport, Kaadedhdhoo Airport and Kadhdhoo Airport. Total air cargo traffic reached about 29 million tonne-km in 2023. Typical export goods such as fish, aircraft, refined petroleum, scrap iron and natural gas, and import goods such as refined petroleum, plastic products, aircraft, granite and ships, indicate that higher-value and time-sensitive cargoes often move by air. The country had about 20 airports in total, providing options for domestic distribution from the main international gateways.

Rail and road freight in Maldives do not connect to foreign gateway ports, as the country is not landlocked and consists of islands surrounded by about 644 km of coastline. Inland moves typically link seaports and airports with local destinations rather than cross-border road corridors. Male functions as the main maritime hub for coastal transfers and connections to other islands.

Customs clearance in Maldives involves the authority referenced at Gan International Airport, and the country has been a member of the World Customs Organization since 1995-09-08. The Maldives is a WTO member and part of SAARC, and applied tariffs averaged about 11 percent in 2022. The logistics performance index customs score was 2.4 in 2018, slightly below the world median of 2.6, while overall LPI was 2.67 against a world median of 2.7. Import lead time was about 9 days and export lead time about 6 days in 2016. For shipments, shippers should prepare a clear commercial invoice, packing list and transport document to support customs processing.