Maldives-USA Bilateral Trade Analysis 2023

Complete trade statistics: $88.75M total volume •Maldives deficit: $64.47M

MaldivesUSA

$12.14M

Exports (2023)

USAMaldives

$76.61M

Imports (2023)

Trade Balance

$64.47M

Deficit for Maldives

Total Trade

$88.75M

Combined Volume

Trade Flow Visualization

Direct trade relationship between Maldives and USA. Green line shows exports from Maldives, red line shows imports.

Detailed Product Trade Analysis

Comprehensive breakdown of trade flows by product category, revealing the specialized nature of the Maldives-USA commercial relationship and competitive positioning in global markets.

MaldivesUSA Exports

$12.14M
2023 Total

Export Market Intelligence

Product Diversity:
Specialized Focus
Market Share:
56.4% top product
1Fish: fresh or chilled, yellowfin tunas (Thunnus albacares), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99
$6.85M
56.4% of exports
2Fish: frozen, yellowfin tunas (Thunnus albacares), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99
$2.95M
24.3% of exports
3Fish fillets: fresh or chilled, other than fish of heading 0304.4
$570,560
4.7% of exports
4Fish: live, ornamental, other than freshwater
$473,130
3.9% of exports
5Fish fillets: frozen, tunas (of the genus Thunnus), skipjack or stripe-bellied bonito (Euthynnus (Katsuwonus) pelamis)
$468,190
3.9% of exports

🎯 Strategic Export Focus

Maldives's export portfolio to USA demonstrates strategic specialization, with fish: fresh or chilled, yellowfin tunas (thunnus albacares), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99 representing a key competitive advantage in this bilateral market.

USAMaldives Imports

$76.61M
2023 Total

Import Dependency Profile

Supply Diversity:
Concentrated
Critical Imports:
11.5% concentration
1Engines: for aircraft, spark-ignition reciprocating or rotary internal combustion piston engines
$8.80M
11.5% of imports
2Aeroplanes and other aircraft: of an unladen weight exceeding 2000kg but not exceeding 15,000kg
$8.64M
11.3% of imports
3Aircraft and spacecraft: parts of aeroplanes or helicopters n.e.c. in heading no. 8803
$7.06M
9.2% of imports
4Automatic data processing machines: portable, weighing not more than 10kg, consisting of at least a central processing unit, a keyboard and a display
$3.20M
4.2% of imports
5Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks
$2.61M
3.4% of imports

📦 Import Strategy Analysis

Maldives's import pattern from USA reveals significant dependencyin engines: for aircraft, spark-ignition reciprocating or rotary internal combustion piston engines, highlighting complementary economic structures and potential supply chain optimization opportunities.

Competitive Trade Position Analysis

🏆

Market Leadership

Maldives demonstrates competitive strength in exportingfish: fresh or chilled, yellowfin tunas (thunnus albacares), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99 to USA, leveraging comparative advantages.

Export Leader in 5+ Categories
🔄

Trade Complementarity

The bilateral relationship showsmoderatecomplementarity, with each country specializing in different sectors.

Specialized Exchange
📈

Growth Potential

The $88.75M trade volume indicates substantial economic integration with room for expansion in emerging sectors.

Significant Partnership

Executive Summary: Maldives-USA Trade Relationship

Key Trade Highlights 2023

  • Total Trade Volume: $88.75 millionrepresenting a significant bilateral economic relationship
  • Trade Balance: Maldives maintains a deficit of $64.47 million
  • Export Focus: Maldives's primary exports include fish: fresh or chilled, yellowfin tunas (thunnus albacares), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99, fish: frozen, yellowfin tunas (thunnus albacares), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99, fish fillets: fresh or chilled, other than fish of heading 0304.4
  • Import Dependencies: Key imports from USA include engines: for aircraft, spark-ignition reciprocating or rotary internal combustion piston engines, aeroplanes and other aircraft: of an unladen weight exceeding 2000kg but not exceeding 15,000kg, aircraft and spacecraft: parts of aeroplanes or helicopters n.e.c. in heading no. 8803

Strategic Trade Indicators

Trade IntensityHigh
Export DiversificationConcentrated
Trade Balance HealthImbalanced

📈 Market Position: This bilateral trade relationship represents an important regional trade partnerships, with complementary economic strengths driving sustained commercial exchange.

Historical Trade Analysis & Economic Context

Trade Evolution Timeline

2019-2023: Recent Trends

Current trade volume of $88.75M represents the culmination of evolving bilateral commercial relationships, influenced by global supply chain shifts and changing economic priorities.

2015-2019: Growth Period

Sustained expansion in bilateral trade driven by complementary economic structures, with Maldives leveraging its comparative advantages in fish: fresh or chilled, yellowfin tunas (thunnus albacares), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99.

2010-2015: Foundation Building

Establishment of modern trade frameworks and reduction of barriers, facilitating increased commercial exchange and investment flows between the two economies.

Pre-2010: Early Development

Initial stages of bilateral trade relationship development, with focus on traditional export-import patterns and gradual market integration.

Key Economic Drivers

1

Comparative Advantage

Maldives's specialization in fish: fresh or chilled, yellowfin tunas (thunnus albacares), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99complements USA's demand patterns, creating natural trade synergies.

2

Supply Chain Integration

Deep integration in global value chains has strengthened bilateral linkages, particularly in engines: for aircraft, spark-ignition reciprocating or rotary internal combustion piston engines.

3

Market Access & Trade Policy

Favorable trade agreements and market access conditions have facilitated the growth of this $88.75M bilateral relationship.

Trade Pattern Insights

Trade ComplementarityAsymmetric
Seasonal VariationsModerate
Product ConcentrationMedium
Market DependencyHigh
🔮

Trade Relationship Outlook

The $88.75M bilateral trade volume positions this relationship for continued growth, supported by technological advancement, evolving consumer preferences, and strengthening economic ties. Key opportunities lie in expanding cooperation in emerging sectors while managing potential supply chain vulnerabilities.

Economic Impact & Strategic Outlook

Economic Impact Assessment

💰

Trade Volume Impact

The $88.75 million bilateral trade volume represents a important trade relationshipfor both economies.

Economic Significance: Moderate
🏭

Industrial Integration

Trade flows in fish: fresh or chilled, yellowfin tunas (thunnus albacares), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99 and engines: for aircraft, spark-ignition reciprocating or rotary internal combustion piston engines demonstrate deep industrial linkages and supply chain integration.

Supply Chain Integration: Specialized
⚖️

Trade Balance Effects

Maldives's trade deficit of $64.47 million impacts its overall economic position in this bilateral relationship.

Balance Impact: Import Dependency

Strategic Future Outlook

🚀Growth Opportunities

Emerging Sectors
Technology transfer and innovation cooperation in fish: frozen, yellowfin tunas (thunnus albacares), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0303.91 to 0303.99 present expansion opportunities.
Market Diversification
Beyond current focus on engines: for aircraft, spark-ignition reciprocating or rotary internal combustion piston engines, new product categories offer potential for trade expansion.

⚠️Risk Factors

Supply Chain Vulnerabilities
High trade imbalance may create supply chain risks
Market Competition
Global competition in fish: fresh or chilled, yellowfin tunas (thunnus albacares), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99 may affect future market positioning.

🎯Strategic Recommendations

  • Strengthen cooperation in high-value sectors beyond current trade patterns
  • Develop alternative supply chains to reduce dependency risks
  • Explore joint ventures in emerging technology sectors
  • Enhance trade facilitation and reduce transaction costs

Market Position & Competitive Summary

The bilateral trade relationship between Maldives and USA represents a total trade volume of $88.75 million in 2023. This partnership demonstrates an unfavorable trade balance for Maldives, with imports exceeding exportsby $64.47 million.

Export Strengths

Maldives's exports to USA total $12.14 million, with competitive advantages in fish: fresh or chilled, yellowfin tunas (thunnus albacares), excluding fillets, fish meat of 0304, and edible fish offal of subheadings 0302.91 to 0302.99, representing $6.85M or56.4% of bilateral exports.

Import Dependencies

Imports from USA amount to $76.61 million, highlighting economic interdependence in engines: for aircraft, spark-ignition reciprocating or rotary internal combustion piston engines, with Engines: for aircraft, spark-ignition reciprocating or rotary internal combustion piston engines comprising11.5% of total imports.

The trade relationship reflects broader economic patterns and comparative advantages. The trade deficit indicates Maldives's strategic sourcing from USA. This partnership is characterized by complementary trade flows, with each country specializing in different product categories based on their respective economic strengths, industrial capabilities, and position in global value chains.

Download Bilateral Trade Data

Access detailed trade data between Maldives and USA in multiple formats.

Data Source: CEPII BACI (Base pour l'Analyse du Commerce International) • Last Updated: January 2025 • Coverage: 1995-2023