Maldives Sea-to-Air Cargo Exports Surge 88 Percent to 633 Tonnes in July

The Maldives experienced a significant boost in logistics activity last month, with sea-to-air cargo exports jumping 88 percent to reach 633 tonnes in July. According to statistics released by Maldives Ports Limited (MPL), this marks a substantial increase from the 335 tonnes exported through the same service in June. During July, cargo was transported from the Maldives to 10 different countries via six major airlines: Emirates, Etihad Airways, Qatar Airways, Saudia, Swiss Air, and Turkish Airlines. In terms of shipping volume, these exports amounted to 131 Twenty-foot Equivalent Units (TEUs). This growth coincides with a historic milestone for the nation's aviation hub. Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL) reported that July was the busiest month in the history of Velana International Airport for transshipment cargo, with total volumes exceeding 2,000 tonnes for the first time. The sea-to-air cargo service—a joint operation between MACL and MPL—allows goods to arrive in the Maldives by sea before being transferred to aircraft for rapid delivery to global destinations. Currently, more than 17 airlines are connected to this logistics network. The Maldivian government views the expansion of this service as a strategic economic driver. By leveraging the high number of international airlines already serving the islands, the state aims to further establish the Maldives as a regional logistics hub, mirroring successful models used in other global trade centers to generate significant economic benefits.