China emerged as the Maldives’ largest source of imported goods during the first five months of 2026, overtaking the United Arab Emirates (UAE), according to the latest financial and economic statistics published by the Maldives Monetary Authority (MMA).
The central bank’s data shows that the Maldives imported goods worth USD 267.4 million from China between January and May this year, marking a 28.1 percent increase compared with the USD 208.7 million recorded during the same period in 2025.
The rise in imports placed China ahead of India, which ranked as the country’s second-largest import partner with goods valued at USD 245 million during the five-month period.
Meanwhile, imports from the UAE declined significantly. Goods imported from the Gulf nation totalled USD 188.3 million between January and May, representing a 47.1 percent drop from the USD 356.2 million recorded in the corresponding period last year.
The figures mark a notable shift in the Maldives’ import landscape. The UAE was the country’s largest source of imports during the first five months of 2025 and retained that position for the entire year, with total imports reaching USD 645 million. In 2024, imports from the UAE stood at USD 723.1 million.
The sharp decline in imports from the UAE comes amid disruptions to shipping routes in the Gulf caused by heightened geopolitical tensions. During the recent conflict involving Iran, Israel and the United States, Iran threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest maritime trade corridors and a critical route for cargo shipments originating from Gulf countries.
Although the strait remained open, the uncertainty surrounding maritime traffic in the region affected shipping operations and supply chains, contributing to reduced import volumes from the UAE.
In contrast, imports from China have continued to grow following the implementation of the Maldives-China Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in January 2025.
The agreement eliminated import duties on a broad range of Chinese products entering the Maldives, while also granting duty-free access to many Maldivian exports, including seafood products, into the Chinese market. The government has previously stated that the FTA is expected to strengthen bilateral trade, lower import costs for businesses and consumers, and create new opportunities for Maldivian exporters.
China has long been one of the Maldives’ largest trading partners, supplying a wide range of goods including construction materials, machinery, electronics, household products and consumer goods. The latest MMA figures suggest the country’s share of the Maldivian import market has continued to expand following the implementation of the free trade agreement.
