India permits exports of essential commodities to Maldives for 2026-27

New Delhi, India on Wednesday permitted export of specified quantities of certain commodities like eggs, potatoes, onions, rice, wheat flour, sugar, and dal for the Maldives for 2026-27.

The Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), in a notification, said these exports have been permitted to the Maldives under the bilateral trade agreement between the countries for 2026-27.

"Export of eggs, potatoes, onions, rice, wheat flour, sugar, dal, stone aggregate and river sand has been permitted to the Maldives... These exports shall remain exempt from any existing or future restrictions or prohibitions during this period," the DGFT said.


In general, there is either a restriction or a prohibition on the export of some of these goods.

The specified quantity allowed includes eggs (448,913,750), potatoes (22589 tonnes), onions (37537 tonnes), rice (230429 tonnes), wheat flour (114,621 tonnes), sugar (67719 tonnes), dal (350 tonnes), stone aggregate (1,300,000 tonnes) and river sand (1,300,000 tonnes).

It said that for the exports of river sand and stone aggregate, CAPEXIL (a body to promote the export of chemical and allied products) will ensure that the suppliers/extractors have obtained appropriate clearances and mining of the sand is not undertaken in the coastal regulation zone area, which is prohibited under the coastal regulation zone notification.

Exporters have to obtain necessary environmental clearances from the designated nodal authority of the respective state governments from where sand and stone aggregate are obtained.

The 1981 India and Maldives trade agreement provides for the export of essential commodities.

Last year, too, India exported these goods.

"India remains strongly committed to supporting human-centric development in the Maldives, as part of its Neighbourhood First policy," it noted.

The quota for river sand and stone aggregates, crucial items for the booming construction industry in the Maldives, has been increased.

Surrounded by the ocean, the islands in the Maldives and the many atolls don't have enough river sand to support their construction industry, hence the need for importing sand and stone aggregates to the country.

The DGFT said that export of these commodities, will be permitted only through six Customs Stations - Mundra Sea port, Tuticorin Sea Port, Nhava Sheva, ICD Tughlakabad, Kandla Sea, and Visakhapatnam Sea.