1,800 vehicles imported so far this year, 66% increase

GREAT BAY--St. Maarten has seen a sharp rise in vehicle imports this year, with data showing a significant jump in automobile cargo between January and August 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. With more vehicles entering the local market, the jump in imports could be a factor in the stifling traffic congestion residents are already enduring in November, rather than later in the high tourism season.

According to the figures, 1,810 automobiles were imported in 2025, up from 1,091 during the first eight months of 2024, a 66% increase. The total gross registered tonnage (GRT) linked to these imports also climbed from 1,753 to 3,131, underscoring the larger volume and possibly the heavier mix of vehicles entering the country.

Exports of automobiles from the island also saw a modest uptick, rising from 36 to 42, while transit vehicles, which typically pass through St. Maarten en route to other destinations, increased substantially. Transit imports rose from 260 to 456 vehicles, and transit exports grew from 171 to 335, signaling St. Maarten’s expanding role as a regional hub for automobile movement.

Addressing the issue on Wednesday, Minister of VROMI Patrice Gumbs said there are two sets of problems: quick fixes such as potholes and localized flooding, and broader structural matters like the number of cars on the island and how development occurs. He stated that a comprehensive traffic study will proceed in three phases, with Phase 1 focused on quick wins already underway and Phases 2 and 3 assessing potential new infrastructure, starting in the coming weeks. Within this framework, he said the country needs clearer rules for managing cars.

Potholes are not the main cause of congestion, he noted; the core issue is road capacity and how it is used. To complement the traffic work, the Minister of TEATT has launched a carrying-capacity study. Gumbs said difficult discussions are needed about where and how to rebuild, adding that cars should not queue onto main roads and that filter lanes are required, an approach the ministry is increasingly applying in civil works and building permit conditions.

He emphasized that the country must consider how many cars it can reasonably allow on 37 square miles. Traffic planning must include the French side, since the border is open and the island cannot plan as if it were only 16 square miles. As a quick win, the ministry converted the Cannegieter Street entrance to one-way traffic, removing a long-standing bottleneck. There were months of complaints while work continued, but those complaints have subsided. A remaining issue is entry to the Pondfill from the secondary road, which the ministry will address through longer-term measures.

He added that low-hanging items like flooding matter, and drivers should slow down when it rains. The ministry is working on these items continuously. The larger task is to determine how much additional load the system can bear, and to set rules for traffic, car ownership, and where building occurs, since these choices shape the pressure on infrastructure.

In the meantime, observers suggest several factors could be behind the increase in imported vehicles, including post-pandemic recovery, higher consumer confidence, and a growing preference for vehicle replacement. The upward trend also coincides with the island’s broader economic rebound and renewed construction and tourism activity, both of which contribute to higher demand for transport and mobility.

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