The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) reported a notable decline in vehicle imports in January at an estimated cost of $ 224 million, in a recently released report.

Vehicle imports, including personal and commercial vehicles, which were estimated around $ 301 million in December 2025 dropped to $ 224 million in January, representing a 25.58% decrease, according to the report.

The total cost of vehicle imports for the full year of 2025 was estimated around $ 2,047 million.

The overall external trade recorded a significant surplus in January, following an estimated surplus of $ 1.7 billion in 2025, indicating a continued improvement in external sector performance. However, the terms of trade deteriorated compared to January 2025, as import prices rose at a faster pace than export prices, as shown by the report.