Wednesday Nov 26, 2025
Wednesday Nov 26, 2025
Wednesday, 26 November 2025 00:25 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Sri Lanka’s export sector continues to show strong resilience, registering over $ 14.43 billion in total exports during the first 10 months of 2025, a 6% year-on-year (YoY) growth, despite month-on-month export earnings was flat.
The latest figures, released by the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB), showed a steady upward trajectory in both merchandise and services exports, despite growing competitiveness and uncertainties in the global markets.
“This encouraging growth highlights Sri Lanka’s increasing integration into global trade and the success of our continued efforts to strengthen export competitiveness, while diversifying market opportunities. Our exporters have once again proven their resilience and adaptability in navigating evolving global challenges,” EDB Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe told journalists yesterday.
In October 2025 alone, total exports, comprising both merchandise and services reached to $ 1.47 billion, a 12.33% growth from a year earlier.
Total exports, comprising both merchandise and services in October reached to $ 1.47 billion, a 0.16% growth from a year earlier.
Merchandise exports in October grew merely by 0.2% year-on-year (YoY) to over $ 1.15 billion according to provisional data of Sri Lanka Customs including the estimates for gems and jewellery, coconut and coconut-based products, electrical and electronics, food and beverages.
During the period from January to October 2025, merchandise exports totalled $ 11.37 billion, up 6.53% YoY.
Services exports have emerged as a key driver of overall export growth. In October 2025, earnings from services exports was estimated to be $ 316.14 million.
Over the first 10 months of the year, services exports are estimated to have increased by 4.01% YoY, totalling $ 3.06 billion. This trend highlights the rising importance of Sri Lanka’s knowledge-based economy and its growing contribution to national export earnings.
The services export sector, comprising ICT/BPM, Construction, Financial services, and Transport and Logistics, continues to diversify Sri Lanka’s export portfolio and create high-value employment opportunities countrywide.
As per the data shared by the EDB, apparel and textile exports saw a robust 5.56% YoY increase between January and October of 2025, reaching over $ 4.44 billion.
Agriculture exports also witnessed a remarkable growth during the first 10 months. Tea exports, which comprised 12% of total merchandise exports, rose by 8.72% YoY to over $ 1.28 billion, whilst coconut-based exports increased by 43.83% YoY to $ 1.03 billion.
On the services side, transport and logistics and ICT/BPM showed positive growth during the first eight months, up by 6.07% YoY to $ 1.57 billion and 9.25% YoY to over $ 1.33 billion, respectively.
Sri Lanka’s export portfolio recorded broad-based growth across key product and service categories in October 2025, supported by stronger global demand, higher value addition and diversified market access.
Noting that total exports exceeded $ 1.47 billion in October alone, with cumulative earnings to over $ 14 billion during the first 10 months of 2025, he said these results reflect the strength, determination, and innovation of our exporters despite global uncertainties.
“With sustained efforts to enhance competitiveness and expand market opportunities, we are confident of reaching the export target set for 2025,” Wijesinghe added.
EDB Chief expressed confidence that the EDB is on track to meet its ambitious export revenue target of $ 19 billion for 2025, aiming for steady growth in both merchandise and services exports within the remaining seven months of the year.
Merchandise exports are projected to climb from $ 12.7 billion in 2024 to $ 14 billion in 2025, while services exports are expected to rise from $ 3.5 billion to $ 4.2 billion by the end of the year.
The EDB’s targets also align with a broader five-year strategy to boost total export earnings to $ 36 billion by 2030, with $ 25 billion from shipment of goods and $ 11 billion from services exports.
Among the top 10 markets, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, United Arab Emirates, Canada, France and China recorded YoY growth in October 2025 as well as during the cumulative period from January to October 2025.
The US, Sri Lanka’s largest single export destination accounting for 23% of the country’s merchandise exports, declined by 0.46% YoY to $ 246.2 million.
However, exports to the US increased by 2.68 % over the cumulative period from January to October 2025, reaching $ 2.49 billion ($ 2,498.04 million).
In October 2025, exports to the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka’s second-largest export destination, decreased by 5.38% YoY to $ 70.36 million.
However, during the cumulative period from January to October 2025, India emerged as Sri Lanka’s second-largest export destination, overtaking the UK. Exports to India increased by 19.31% to $ 866.90 million compared to the same period in 2024.
In terms of exports to Free Trade Agreement (FTA) partners, in October 2025, exports to India and Pakistan accounted for 7.86% of total merchandise exports, registering a YoY decrease of 8.52% YoY to $ 82.03 million.
Exports to India in October decreased by 10.03% primarily due to a sharp drop in pepper and petroleum products exports. Meanwhile, exports to Pakistan increased by 9.59% mainly as a result of higher shipments of desiccated coconut.
During the period from January to October 2025, exports to India and Pakistan accounted for 8.2% of Sri Lanka’s total merchandise exports, recording a substantial increase of 17.56% YoY to reach $ 930.38 million.
During the first 10 months of 2025, exports to India increased significantly by 19.31%, driven primarily by increased shipments of Petroleum Oil, Animal feed and Animal or Vegetable Fats and Oils and their Products. Meanwhile, exports to Pakistan decreased by 2.08%, due to the decreased exports of Betel Leaves.
Regionally, exports to the European Union (EU), which account for 24% of Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports, increased during both October and the cumulative period of January to October 2025 respectively by 14.43% and 12.56%.
