Courtesy The Daily Mirror

• SL on track to meet 2025 target
• In September alone, exports surged 12.33% YoY to US$ 1.46 bn
• 72% of yearend target set for 2025 achieved thus far
• Exports to the United States, SL’s largest single destination, fell 2.84% in September but rose 3.04% year-to-date to US$ 2.25 bn

Sri Lanka’s export engine continued to gather pace this year with steady growth delivered across both goods and services.

Provisional data released by the Export Development Board (EDB) showed that total export earnings climbed to US$ 12. 98 billion in the first nine months of 2025, which is a 7 percent increase Year-on-Year (YoY).

In September alone, exports surged 12.33 percent year-on-year to US$ 1.46 billion. Merchandise exports rose 15.02 percent to US$ 1,163.66 million, while services exports were estimated at US$ 306.09 million.

This encouraging growth reflects Sri Lanka’s deepening integration into global trade and the success of our continued efforts to enhance export competitiveness and diversify market opportunities,” said EDB Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mangala Wijesinghe. 

Exceeding US$ 12.9 billion in cumulative export earnings by September 2025 is evidence to the strength and determination of our export community,” he added.

With the first nine months performance, the local export fraternity has achieved approximately 72 percent of the yearend target set for 2025.

We remain confident that, through sustained collaboration and strategic action, Sri Lanka will successfully reach its 2025 export target,” the EDB Chief said. During the first nine months of 2025, Sri Lanka’s export growth was broad-based, with key sectors posting strong gains. Earnings from apparel, tea, coconut-based products, spices and concentrates, and food and beverages rose by 6.22 percent, 9.8 percent, 41.83 percent, 2.41 percent, and 24.75 percent respectively, compared to the same period in 2024. 

Apparel exports brought in US$ 4.01 billion, supported by higher shipments to the US, UK, and EU, while tea exports reached US$ 1.16 billion, driven by stronger sales of packets and bulk tea. The coconut sector saw standout growth, surging to US$ 909.09 million on robust demand for value-added products such as coconut oil, milk powder, and activated carbon.  Meanwhile, spices, led by cinnamon and cloves, and food and beverages, buoyed by processed food exports, also posted solid year-on-year growth. The momentum was further supported by gains in seafood, electronics, ICT/BPM, and logistics and transport services, reinforcing the sector’s resilience and diversification.

In September, apparel and textile exports rose 1.53 percent year-on-year to US$ 425.07 million in while tea exports surged 17.06 percent to US$ 137 million, lifted by stronger shipments of packets, bulk, and instant tea. 

Coconut-based products led the charge with a 72.03 percent increase, driven by strong demand for fibre and shell-based products. 

Food and beverages climbed 50.11 percent, seafood exports jumped 53.07 percent, and gems and jewellery shone with a 76.95 percent rise. ICT/BPM exports also surged 27.05 percent to US$ 157.76 million.

However, rubber-based products and spices dipped 6.55 percent and 10.18 percent respectively, while logistics and transport services declined 14.95 percent year-on-year.

Among top markets, India, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, UAE, Canada, France, and China posted growth both in September and over the nine-month period.  Exports to the United States, Sri Lanka’s largest single destination, fell 2.84 percent in September to US$ 238.72 million but rose 3.04 percent year-to-date to US$ 2.25 billion. 

India strengthened its position as the second-largest export market with a 31.7 percent jump in September and 23.09 percent growth in the first nine months, while exports to the UK dipped 4.75 percent in September but gained 4.4 percent cumulatively.