Exports in the month of January has risen by 21%, reveals statistics of Maldives Customs Service (MCS).

Statistics show that the country exported goods worth MVR 420 million in the month of January; a 21% increase compared to the same period in 2019.

Majority of the exported goods comprise of Skipjack Tuna (Dhivehi: Kalhubilamas) with MVR 104 million of frozen tuna sold overseas.

Likewise, the majority of the goods were exported to Thailand with MVR139 million worth of goods sold to the southeastern country alone. The next most exports were sent to Germany (goods worth MVR18 million), America (goods worth MVR17 million), France (goods worth MVR15 million), and England (goods worth MVR14 million).

Nevertheless, state income has fallen due to a drop in imports. Hence, only MVR 272 million was generated as state revenue in January 2020 while MVR 329 million was generated in December 2019.

In comparison, MVR 303 million was generated as state revenue in January 2019.

The total amount spent on imports has also decreased by MVR 600 million with goods worth MVR 3.8 billion being imported into the country last month.

Last December and January have been prosperous months for the country's economy. As such, exports of both months total up to MVR 846 million. However, this amount is MVR 24 million lower than the number of exports compared to the last six months of 2019.