Buying and selling are essential for any country to develop its economy and maintain good relations with other nations. The first table below shows top trading partners of Maldives in terms of export sales (selling), including Thailand, France, and Sri Lanka. The second lists top trade partners of Maldives regarding import total (buying). That is, most products are imported from these countries to Maldives.
Maldives Major Exports
Market Value: 114 (millions) – Last Updated: June, 2019
| Rank | Country (Exports To) | Trade Value (thousands) | Share (%) | Growth (% 5yr) |
| 1 | Thailand | 61,638 | 54.05 | 108.81 |
| 2 | France | 10,731 | 9.41 | 278.53 |
| 3 | Sri Lanka | 10,069 | 8.83 | (41.66) |
| 4 | Italy | 9,304 | 8.16 | 282.68 |
| 5 | United Kingdom | 9,006 | 7.90 | (27.71) |
| 6 | Germany | 3,279 | 2.87 | (45.75) |
| 7 | Iran | 3,248 | 2.85 | NA |
| 8 | Japan | 2,981 | 2.61 | (79.27) |
| 9 | Netherlands | 1,493 | 1.31 | 151.75 |
| 10 | India | 1,225 | 1.07 | 157.70 |
| 11 | Spain | 1,073 | 0.94 | 3,542.60 |
Maldives Major Imports
Market Value: 649 (millions) – Last Updated: June, 2019
| Rank | Country (Imports From) | Trade Value (thousands) | Share (%) | Growth (% 5yr) |
| 1 | United Arab Emirates | 198,331 | 30.56 | 198.12 |
| 2 | Singapore | 159,393 | 24.56 | (0.87) |
| 3 | India | 80,489 | 12.40 | 22.42 |
| 4 | Bahamas | 58,662 | 9.04 | 238,829.77 |
| 5 | Malaysia | 49,038 | 7.56 | 0.76 |
| 6 | Sri Lanka | 18,670 | 2.88 | (72.70) |
| 7 | Japan | 14,787 | 2.28 | 22.71 |
| 8 | Indonesia | 11,266 | 1.74 | (11.59) |
| 9 | Thailand | 10,051 | 1.55 | (58.82) |
| 10 | United States | 7,332 | 1.13 | (12.21) |
| 11 | New Zealand | 6,431 | 0.99 | (23.18) |
| 12 | Germany | 5,817 | 0.90 | (45.65) |
| 13 | Canada | 4,760 | 0.73 | (45.81) |
| 14 | Oman | 4,313 | 0.66 | 757.58 |
| 15 | Netherlands | 3,814 | 0.59 | (21.37) |
| 16 | Pakistan | 3,183 | 0.49 | 45.29 |
| 17 | Switzerland | 2,475 | 0.38 | (9.58) |
| 18 | Bermuda | 2,038 | 0.31 | NA |
| 19 | Brazil | 1,735 | 0.27 | 58.15 |
| 20 | France | 1,617 | 0.25 | (86.88) |
| 21 | Hong Kong | 1,486 | 0.23 | (85.69) |
| 22 | South Korea | 1,240 | 0.19 | NA |
| 23 | Italy | 1,097 | 0.17 | (90.82) |
| 24 | United Kingdom | 1,020 | 0.16 | (92.52) |