Sri Lanka's export sector demonstrated remarkable resilience and steady progress during the first six months of 2025, with total exports reaching US$ 8,337.86 Mn, marking a robust 6.70 % growth compared to the same period in 2024.
Total exports, including both merchandise and services reached US$ 1,460.34 Mn in June 2025. This shows an impressive year-on-year growth of 8.73% over June 2024, highlighting the strength of Sri Lanka’s export sector and the effectiveness of ongoing strategies to broaden market reach and improve global competitiveness.
In June 2025 alone, merchandise exports grew by 6.85 % year-on-year, reaching US$ 1,150.73 Mn, according to provisional data of Sri Lanka Customs including the estimates for Gems & Jewellery and Petroleum Products. For the period January to June 2025, merchandise exports totaled US$ 6,504.72 Mn, reflecting 5.86% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Meanwhile, services exports have emerged as a key driver of overall export growth. In June 2025, earnings from services exports estimated to be US$ 309.61 Mn. Over the first six months of the year, services exports are estimated to have increased by 9.78 %, totaling US$ 1,833.14 Mn. 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 & Logistics, continues to diversify Sri Lanka's export portfolio and create high-value employment opportunities across the Island.
Major Exports in June 2025
a) Products & Services with Positive Growth (Increases)
Export earnings from tea which made up 12.8% of merchandise exports, increased by 9.21% y-o-y to US$ 132.97 Mn in June 2025 compared to June 2024. This increase is mainly due to the strong performance in the export of Tea Packets (25.53%) and Instant Tea (49.65%).
In addition, the volume of tea exports increased by 11.02 % in June 2025 compared to the same month in 2024. Notably, tea exports to Iraq and Libya recorded significant increases of 82.99%, 172.38% respectively, while tea exports to Iran have decreased by 55.31% in June 2025 compared to the same month in 2024.
A monthly analysis reveals that export earnings from Coconut based products showing a significant increase of 59.62% in June 2025 compared to the same month in 2024. Notably, earnings from Coconut kernel products increased by 88.56%, Coconut fiber products by 33.61%, and Coconut shell products by 13.09%, reflecting strong global demand and improved value addition across the sector.
Export earnings from Coconut Oil, Coconut Milk powder, Coconut Cream and Liquid Coconut Milk which are categorized under the Coconut kernel products increased by 97.09%, 83.03%, 131.26% and 96.79% respectively in June 2025 compared to June 2024.
Being the largest contributor to Coconut based sector, Coco Peat, Fiber Pith & Moulded products which are categorized under the Coconut fiber products, increased by 33.14% to US$ 20.17 Mn in June 2025 in comparison to June 2024.
Earnings from Activated Carbon, which is categorized under the Coconut shell products increased by 11.55% to US$ 13.62 Mn in June 2025 compared to June 2024.
Export earnings from Food & Beverages have increased by 28.33% y-o-y to US$ 47.43 Mn in June 2025, with the positive performance in exports of Processed Food (46.44%).
Export earnings from Apparel & Textiles have slightly increased by 3.71 % y-o-y to US$ 463.12 Mn in June 2025, compared to June 2024.
Moreover, the estimated value of Diamonds, Gems & Jewellery is expected to increase by 26.96% to US$ 37.90 Mn in June 2025 when compared to June 2024.
Furthermore, the estimated value of Logistics and Transport services is projected to rise by 12.39% to reach US$ 148.18 Mn in June 2025 compared to June 2024.
Similarly, the estimated value of ICT/BPM exports is expected to grow by 34.12% to US$ 147.18 Mn in June 2025 compared to June 2024.
b) Products with Negative Growth (Decreases)
Similarly, export earnings from Spices and Essential Oils have decreased by 27.16% to US$ 34.90 Mn in the month of June 2025 compared to month of June 2024 mainly due to the poor performance in export of Pepper (-57.13%).
Export earnings from Rubber and Rubber Finished products have decreased by 1.04% y-o-y to US$ 81.77 Mn in June 2025, with the poor performance in exports of Sheet Rubber (-66.67%).
Export earnings from Seafood decreased by 23.83% to US$ 15.66 Mn in June 2025 compared to June 2024. This decrease was mainly due to the negative performance in export of Fish Fresh or Chilled (-63.35%).
Furthermore, export earnings from Ornamental fish decreased by 54.66% to US$ 1.07 Mn in June 2025 compared to June 2024.
In addition, export earnings from the Electrical & Electronics Components decreased by 5.58% y-o-y to US$ 34.19 Mn in June 2025.
Exports during the period of January – June 2025
Cumulative total exports, including both merchandise and services, were estimated at US$ 8,337.86 Mn for the period January to June 2025, making a notable 6.70 % growth compared to the same period in 2024.
Merchandise exports during the first six months of 2025 are estimated to increase by 5.86 %, reaching US$ 6,504.72 Mn, based on data from Sri Lanka Customs along with the estimated figures for Gems & Jewellery and Petroleum Products.
a) Products & Services with Positive Growth (Increases)
Earnings from export of Apparel, Tea, Coconut products, Spices & Concentrates and Food & Beverages increased by 8.19 %, 8.16 %, 32.40 %, 29.64 % and 17.22 % respectively during the period of first six months of 2025 in comparison to the corresponding period of 2024.
Earnings from export of Apparel & Textile have increased by 8.19 % to US$ 2,599.87 Mn during the period of January to June 2025 compared to the same period in 2024. Notably, exports to the United States and the United Kingdom increased by 4.35% and 6.77%, amounting to US$ 919.92Mn and US$ 371.54Mn respectively.
Earnings from export of Tea increased y-o-y by 8.16 % to US$ 743.07 Mn in the period of January to June 2025. This increase was mainly due to the strong performance in export of Tea Packets (19.06 %).
Export earnings of Coconut & Coconut based products increased by 32.40 % to US$ 536.65 Mn during the first six months of 2025 compared to the last year. Earnings from all the major categories of Coconut based products increased in the period of January to June 2025 compared with the corresponding period of 2024 due to the strong performance in export of Coconut Oil (72.36%), Desiccated Coconut (23.12%), Coconut Milk Powder (80.15%), Coconut Cream (65.96%), Liquid Coconut Milk (35.43%), Cocopeat (19.80%) and Activated Carbon (16.35%).
In addition, export earnings from Spices and Essential Oils increased y-o-y by 29.64% to US$ 208.53 Mn in the period of first six months of 2025. This increase was due to the strong performance in exports of Pepper (26.86%), Cinnamon (25.01%) & Cloves (277.67%).
Export earnings from Food & Beverages have increased by 17.22% y-o-y to US$ 278.93 Mn in the first six months of 2025, with the positive performance in exports of Processed food (37.18%).
Furthermore, the estimated value of ICT/ BPM exports is expected to increase by 11.02% to US$ 764.48 Mn during the period of January to June 2025 when compared to the corresponding period of 2024.
In addition, the estimated value of Logistics & transport services is expected to increase by 17.92% to US$ 974.33 Mn during the period of January to June 2025 when compared to the corresponding period of 2024.
b) Products & Services with Negative Growth (Decreases)
Export earnings from Rubber & Rubber finished products decreased by 6.22% to US$ 467.81 Mn in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period in 2024 attributed to decreased exports of Pneumatic & Retreated Rubber Tyres & Tubes (-19.07%).
Further, export earnings from Seafood decreased by 19.02% to US$ 104.17 Mn during the first six months of 2025 compared to year 2024 due to the negative performance in Fresh Fish (-41.77 %) and Shrimps (-60.93%).
Meanwhile earnings from export of Electrical and Electronic Components (EEC) decreased by 1.74% to US$ 201.45 Mn in the first six months of 2025 compared to the corresponding period of 2024. This decrease was due to the poor performance in exports of Insulated Wires and Cables (-11.22%) and Printed Circuits (-64.12%).
Table 1 shows the comparison of Merchandise export performance during the month of June 2025 and the period of January to June 2025 compared to 2024.
Sri Lanka’s Export Performance in Major Markets
Among the top 10 export markets, United Kingdom, India, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, and France have shown positive growth in both June 2025 and the cumulative period of January to June 2025 compared to the corresponding periods in 2024.
United States, Sri Lanka’s single largest export destination, which absorbs 23% of Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports, slightly decreased by 0.73 % to US$ 252.34 Mn in June 2025 compared to June 2024. However, exports to United States over the cumulative period from January to June 2025 increased by 4.61%, reaching US$ 1,434.99 Mn.
Exports to the United Kingdom increased by 22.38% to US$ 91.64 Mn in June 2025 compared to the same month in 2024. During the cumulative period from January to June 2025, exports to the UK recorded a growth of 6.92%, reaching US$ 483.93 Mn compared to the corresponding period in 2024.
India has continued as the Sri Lanka’s second-largest export destination, surpassing the United Kingdom. Exports to India increased by 9.23% to US$ 95.88 Mn in June 2025, while cumulative exports from January to June 2025 surged by 26.54 %, reaching US$ 505.62 Mn compared to the same period in 2024.
Table 2 shows the comparison of Merchandise export performance of top 15 export markets during the month of June 2025 and the period of January to June 2025 compared to 2024.
Exports to FTA Partners (India & Pakistan)
a) June 2025
In June 2025, exports to India and Pakistan accounted for 7.86% of total merchandise exports, registering a slight increment of year-on-year growth of 5.94% to reach US$ 100.64 Mn compared to June 2024.
Exports to India increased by 9.23%, primarily driven by increased shipments of Animal Feed and Petroleum Oil. Meanwhile, exports to Pakistan decreased by 34.07%, largely attributed by sharp decline in exports of Sheet rubber and Betel leaves
b) January - June 2025
During the period from January to June 2025, exports to India and Pakistan accounted for 8.2% of Sri Lanka’s total merchandise exports, recording a substantial increase of 23.22 % to reach US$ 538.93Mn compared to the same period in the previous year.
Exports to India increased significantly by 26.54%, driven primarily by increased shipments of Petroleum oil and Animal feed. Meanwhile, exports to Pakistan decreased by 11.83%, due to the decrease exports of Betel leaves and Desiccated Coconut.
Sri Lanka’s Export Performance in Regions
Table 3 shows the comparison of region wise exports during the month of June 2025 and the period of January to June 2025 compared to 2024.
Exports to the European Union (EU), which account for 24% of Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports, increased during both June 2025 and the cumulative period of January to June 2025 respectively by 23.44% and 10.30%.
Exports to the top five EU markets were recoded as; Germany US$ 348.15 Mn (increased by13.14%), Italy US$ 316.37 Mn (increased by 6.3 %), Netherlands US$ 221.66Mn (increased by 22.46%), France US$ 131.98 Mn. (increased by 1.17%) and Belgium US$ 114.94Mn (increased by 3.71%) during the cumulative period of January to June 2025 in comparison to the corresponding period in 2024.
Sources: Data was obtained from the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) and Sri Lanka Customs.
Export figures of Services, Gems & Jewellery, and Petroleum Products for June 2025 were estimated by the EDB
Policy & Strategic Planning Division - 25.07.2025
