Sri Lanka’s total exports for the month of June outpaced the performance in the same time period last year by 8.73%, earning $ 1,460.34 million, Export Development Board (EDB) monthly data bulletin shows.
This brings the total earnings in the first six months to $ 8,337.86 million, posting a growth of 6.7 %, compared to the same period in 2024.
In June, merchandise exports grew by 6.85 % year-on-year (y-o-y), reaching $ 1,150.73 million, including the estimates for Gems and Jewellery and Petroleum Products.
For the period January-June, merchandise exports raked in a total of $ 6,504.72 million, reflecting 5.86% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Meanwhile, services exports have emerged as a key driver of overall export growth. Earnings from services exports are estimated to be $ 309.61 million. Over the first six months of the year, services exports are estimated to have increased by 9.78 %, totaling $ 1,833.14 million.
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 across the Island.
Export earnings from tea which made up 12.8% of merchandise exports, increased by 9.21% y-o-y to $ 132.97 million in June 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 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 decreased by 55.31% in June 2025 compared to the same month in 2024.
Similarly, export earnings from spices and essential oils have decreased by 27.16% to $ 34.90 million in the month of June compared to the 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 $ 81.77 million in June, with the poor performance in exports of sheet rubber (-66.67%).