The average number of containers cleared by Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) in June 2023 saw a 14% decline compared to May 2023.
According to MPL, a total of 4,400 containers were cleared from its commercial harbors in the review month. This is equivalent to 6,180 TEUs (twenty-foot equivalent units). From the total containers, 2,620 were 20-footers and 1,780 were 40-footers.
Correlating to this decline in the number of containers cleared, the amount of perishables imported via the commercial harbors saw subsequent drops as well.
Water imports in June recorded a 16% drop, with 20,554 units imported compared to 24,605 units in May. Bananas saw an 18% drop with 8,938 units during the review month compared to 10,908 units in the previous month.
The most significant plunge was observed in tomato imports, which dropped 28% to 12,457 units in June from 13,500 units in May. Other perishables including eggs, cabbage, onion, potato, pumpkin, and pineapple saw decline in June as well.