Countries · MV
Maldives: sanctions and trade risk
As of 7 November 2026, the screened UN, EU, UK, Swiss and US sanctions lists contain 30 companies, organisations, vessels and aircraft linked to Maldives.Lists last checked .
Logistics profile: ports, airports, customs, documents, holidays, news ↓
No elevated country indicator for Maldives in the route rules Sanctioni uses. That is not a clearance: goods may still be export-controlled, and parties in Maldives may still be on a list.
On the sanctions lists
30 entries on the official lists name Maldives — as nationality, address, registration or flag. That links them to the country; it says nothing about other companies there. The same company can appear on several lists and is then counted once per list. Individuals are not included — Sanctioni does not process them.
| List | Entries | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US OFAC — Specially Designated Nationals (SDN) | 30 | 30 | — | — |
Latest changes
No new listings or removals naming Maldives recorded yet.
Related
Logistics profile
Maldives: logistics and trade
Atoll state in the Indian Ocean; island supply driven by tourism and imports, fish exporter
The Maldives (ISO code: MV) is an archipelago of over 1,000 coral islands in the Indian Ocean, southwest of India and Sri Lanka. It is a presidential republic administered from the capital island of Male. The climate is tropical, with high temperatures, humidity and seasonal monsoon rains. Tourism and fisheries dominate the economy, while the industrial base is limited and the country is highly dependent on imports of food, fuel and construction materials. Logistics centre on a few sea and air gateways that supply the dispersed islands, with Male Commercial Harbour and Velana International Airport as the key nodes. The national currency is the Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR). The growing tourism sector makes efficient island supply increasingly important, while exports remain small and focused on fish and marine products.
- Capital
- Malé
- Population
- 527,799
- Area
- 298 km²
- Currency
- Maldivian Rufiyaa (MVR)
- Continent
- Asia
- Region
- South Asia / Indian Ocean
- Economic area
- SAARC / SAFTA
- Religions
- Islam
- Access to the sea
- Yes
Transport modes Sea · Air
- Current situation
- Malé Commercial Harbour is at its capacity limit; planned relocation to Gulhifalhu (around 220'000 containers). Velana International Airport with new cargo terminal (around 120'000 t/year, Terminal 1 since July 2025).
- Seasonal conditions
- Tropical monsoon climate: southwest monsoon (Hulhangu) approx. May–Nov with heavy rain and wind, northeast monsoon (Iruvai) Dec–Apr drier. Low-lying atolls are at risk from storm surges and sea-level rise.
Main seaports
- Male
Malé Commercial Harbour (MV MCP) is the main gateway of the Maldives: about 20,250 TEU and 830,000 t a year, run by Maldives Ports Limited.
Main cargo airports
- Velana International AirportMLE
Velana International Airport Malé (MLE): 120,000 t/year cargo terminal, tuna exports, ongoing expansion. Customs, atoll distribution and Colombo as alternative.
- Gan International AirportGAN
Gan International (GAN/VRMG), Addu City: the Maldives' second gateway, 829,400 kg cargo in 2023, belly freight only, USD 29.7m upgrade due 2026.
Main trade lanes
- UAE-Malé
- India-Malé
- China-Malé
- Singapore-Malé
- Sri Lanka-Malé
Customs and import
Customs authority Maldives Customs ServiceOfficial website ↗
- Import customs system
- Electronic customs clearance via ASYCUDA of the Maldives Customs Service; customs value on CIF basis, HS classification via the Valuation and Tariff Section, endorsed commercial invoice plus Customs Declaration Form.
- Export customs system
- Export via the Maldives Customs Service with ASYCUDA export declaration; main exports are fish and marine products, accompanying documents and proofs of origin depending on the agreement (SAFTA, China FTA).
- Import VAT
- No conventional import VAT; GST (MIRA) 8 percent standard rate, in tourism TGST 17 percent (since 1.7.2025). The border charge is the import duty on the CIF value.
- Proofs of origin and trade agreements
- Proofs of origin under SAFTA (SAARC) and the China-Maldives FTA (in force since 1.1.2025); depending on the agreement, Certificate of Origin from the competent authority.
- Restricted and prohibited goods
- Prohibited: drugs, pornography, material offensive to Islam, idols, live pigs. Subject to permit: alcohol (resort license), pork, weapons, chemicals, tobacco, animals/plants (Import Prohibition Act 4/1975).
Typical import documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
- Customs Declaration Form
- Import permit for regulated goods
Typical export documents
- Commercial invoice
- Packing list
- Bill of Lading / Air Waybill
- Export declaration
- Proof of origin (SAFTA/China FTA)
Logistics conditions
- Customs complexity
- Medium
- Customs delays
- Medium
- Port congestion
- Medium to high
- Dangerous goods relevance
- Medium
- Pharma and cold chain relevance
- Medium
- E-commerce relevance
- Medium
Trade
Top import partners
Top import goods
- Food
- Petroleum products
- Construction materials
- Machinery
- Vehicles
Top export goods
- Fish
- Marine products
Typical cargo
- Food
- Petroleum products/fuel
- Construction materials
- Machinery
- Consumer goods
- Fish/marine products (export)
Logistics questions
Does the Maldives levy VAT on imports?
There is no conventional import VAT. On domestic supplies, MIRA levies GST of 8 percent (in tourism TGST 17 percent since 1.7.2025). At the border, the import duty on the CIF value applies.
Who handles customs clearance and through which system?
The Maldives Customs Service is responsible. Declarations are submitted electronically via ASYCUDA; the customs value is determined on a CIF basis, and classification is handled by the Valuation and Tariff Section.
What are the import duty rates?
The MFN tariff has several bands from zero up to 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 35, 50, 100 and 200 percent; on pork and alcohol up to 400 percent. Basic foodstuffs and construction materials are often duty-free or taxed at low rates.
Which goods are prohibited or subject to permit?
Prohibited items include drugs, pornography, material offensive to Islam and idols. Alcohol (licensed resorts only), pork, weapons, chemicals and tobacco require a permit (Import Prohibition Act 4/1975).
Which ports and airports are relevant for freight?
The main seaport is the Malé Commercial Harbour (Maldives Ports Limited); relocation to Gulhifalhu is planned. The main cargo airport is Velana International Airport (MLE) with a new cargo terminal.
Do the Maldives have free trade agreements?
Yes. The China-Maldives FTA has been in force since 1.1.2025, the country's first bilateral agreement. The Maldives is also a member of the South Asian Free Trade Area (SAFTA).
What seasonal risks exist for the supply chain?
The monsoon climate brings heavy rain and wind from May to November (southwest monsoon); low-lying atolls are at risk from storm surges and sea-level rise, which can disrupt inter-atoll transport.
Full logistics profile on Freight Academy ↗
Powered by Freight Academy, verified 25 Jun 2026. Logistics information, not a sanctions source.