Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) cleared 1,958 consignments during the final week of October, highlighting the steady flow of essential goods and commercial cargo into the country as port operations continue at Malé Commercial Harbour.
According to statistics released by MPL, the total included 1,472 containers handled from container vessels and 486 consignments from general cargo vessels. Altogether, 41,959.34 freight tonnes of cargo were cleared during the week, of which container vessels accounted for 39,051.74 freight tonnes, while general cargo vessels contributed 2,907.6 freight tonnes.
Shipping activity also remained strong, with two container vessels and five general cargo vessels arriving at Malé Commercial Harbour during the period. Four container vessels and eight general cargo vessels departed the harbour. MPL recorded a total of 3,139 container movements, comprising 1,176 containers unloaded and 1,963 containers shipped out.
A significant share of the week’s operations involved essential and perishable food supplies for the Maldivian market. MPL cleared 67,869 packages of perishable goods, including fruits and vegetables. Eggs represented the highest volume among key essential items, with 16,278 cases cleared, followed by 11,519 sacks of onions.
Other major food imports included 9,133 cases of watermelons, 6,556 sacks of potatoes and 6,173 cases of tomatoes, demonstrating the important role played by the country’s maritime logistics network in maintaining a consistent supply of everyday food products to households, retailers, hotels, resorts and businesses across the Maldives.
The strong cargo activity comes as the Government continues to advance the relocation of the country’s main commercial harbour from Malé to Thilafushi. The new harbour is targeted to officially open and commence services on 11 November 2027.
The Thilafushi harbour development is expected to significantly strengthen the Maldives’ cargo-handling capacity and improve the efficiency, speed and resilience of MPL’s operations. By shifting major commercial port activities away from the congested capital, the project is also expected to support more efficient logistics, facilitate growing trade volumes and strengthen the infrastructure required for the country’s expanding economy and tourism industry.
As demand for imported food, construction materials and commercial goods continues to grow, the Government’s investment in modernising port infrastructure is expected to provide greater capacity for businesses while supporting reliable supply chains throughout the island nation.
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