Maldives Ports Limited (MPL) has cleared 40,000 tonnes of cargo in the first 10 days of Ramadan, as the demand for imported goods rises during the holy month. 

Speaking on MMTV’s “Bodu Khabaru” programme, the Section Head of MPL’s Cargo Clearance Department, Ismail Saeed, stated that the volume of goods arriving at MPL increases significantly during Ramadan, particularly perishable items.

According to Ismail Saeed, the most frequently cleared items in this period have been onions and eggs. To manage the surge in imports, MPL formed a special task force ahead of Ramadan, working in collaboration with key institutions such as Maldives Customs Services and the Maldives Food and Drug Authority. The main objective has been to ensure that perishable goods and general cargo are cleared efficiently, and extensive preparations have been made to facilitate this process.

MPL’s Head of Operations, Ilyas Mohamed, outlined the company's operational targets for the fasting month. Full-scale operations are set to clear 150 containers daily, while during half-day operations, the target is 100 containers. 

To accommodate the increased demand, MPL has expanded storage capacity by setting up additional sheds in Male’ and arranging for temporary storage in Hulhumalé, including dry bulk storage, as the existing facilities are insufficient to house all perishable goods.

During Ramadan, MPL will provide services every day except Fridays. On operating days, services will be available from 9:15 AM to 4:00 AM, with additional services running from 9:15 PM to 1:30 AM. The Hulhumalé Terminal will also operate within these hours to facilitate cargo handling.