Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports rose 15.37 percent to 1,304 million US dollars in July 2025 from a year earlier, driven by strong growth in tea, coconut and apparel exports, the Export Development Board (EDB) said.
Cumulative merchandise exports for January to July 2025 reached 7,799.82 million dollars, up 7.22 percent compared to the same period in 2024.
Earnings from tea, which accounted for 12.8 percent of merchandise exports, increased 13.09 percent to 141.02 million dollars in July. Coconut-based products surged 63.85 percent, while apparel and textiles rose 8.15 percent to 479.90 million dollars, with US President Donald Trump’s proposed tariffs on Sri Lankan exports remaining paused.
Other notable increases came from food and beverages (up 64.47%), rubber and rubber products (up 10.10%), and seafood and ornamental fish, which surged 78.17 percent and 148.97 percent respectively.
However, earnings from spices and essential oils fell sharply by 39.85 percent to 36.81 million dollars, largely due to an 81.18 percent drop in pepper exports.
Exports to the US, Sri Lanka’s largest single market, grew 2.64 percent to 274.07 million dollars, while India strengthened its position as the second-largest export destination, surpassing the UK, with a 28.87 percent increase to 118.69 million dollars.
Meanwhile, services exports rose 3.36 percent in July to 337.11 million dollars, supported mainly by transport and logistics. For the first seven months of 2025, services exports are estimated at 2,192.71 million dollars, up 9.86 percent.
Within services, transport and logistics grew 14.33 percent to 178.74 million dollars, but ICT/BPM earnings slipped 2.28 percent to 144.98 million dollars, while construction plunged 42.03 percent to 10.73 million dollars. Financial services also fell 9.51 percent to 2.66 million dollars.
Altogether, Sri Lanka’s total exports of goods and services for January–July 2025 stood at 9,992.53 million dollars, marking a 7.79 percent year-on-year increase.
