Sri Lanka’s export sector recorded a year-on-year 5.6% growth, with total export earnings reaching $ 17.2 billion last year (2025), Sri Lanka Customs statistics and estimated export figures for Gems and Jewellery, Petroleum Products, and services show.
The year’s export performance missed the initially set target of $ 18.2 billion, owing to the external shocks experienced from global trade volatility in 2025, and internal shocks that followed cyclone Ditwah.
Commenting on this achievement, Export Development Board (EDB) Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Mangala Wijesinghe stated that Sri Lanka’s export earnings in 2025 reached $ 17,252.15 million, achieving over 94.79 % of the export target. He noted that this performance highlights the resilience and competitiveness of Sri Lanka’s export sector, supported by the recovery of key export markets, sustained production capacity, and the effective implementation of export development strategies.
In December 2025, merchandise exports recorded a 5.88 % year-on-year increase, reaching $ 1,166.60 million, according to provisional data of Sri Lanka Customs, including estimated figures for Gems and Jewellery and Petroleum Products. For the full year 2025, merchandise export earnings amounted to $ 13,579.38 million, reflecting a 6.32 % increase compared to 2024.
During December 2025, services export earnings were estimated to have declined by 2.47%, reaching $ 323.89 million. However, on an annual basis, services exports recorded an estimated 2.79% growth, totaling $ 3,672.77 million. Meanwhile, ICT/BPM export earnings were expected to increase by 5.19%, reaching $ 169.83 million during the same period. Export earnings from Electrical and Electronics Components decreased by 11.09% year-on-year to $ 35.20million in December 2025.
Export earnings from Apparel and Textiles increased by 5.26% year-on-year, reaching $ 470.35 million in December 2025, compared to the same month in 2024. The Apparel and Textile sector remained the primary revenue driver, increasing by 5.34% to reach $ 4,909.05 million. Notably, exports to the European Union surged by 12.2% ($ 1,592.89 million), while the United States and the United Kingdom contributed $ 1,964.14 million and $ 688.54 million, respectively.
Meanwhile, the Tea export industry recorded earnings of $ 1,507.19 million, a 4.97% increase supported primarily by the strong performance of tea packets, which increased by 10.18%.
The Coconut and Coconut-based products sector earnings increased by 42.66% to $ 1,233.01 million. This was driven by growth across all sub-categories, including coconut cream (93.16%), coconut oil (78.68%), and coconut milk powder (61.47%).
A monthly analysis reveals that export earnings from coconut-based products recorded a significant 27.24% year-on-year increase in December 2025. The estimated export value of Diamonds, Gems and Jewellery was expected to be increased by 46.15%, reaching $ 23.91 million in December 2025 compared to December 2024.
Spices and essential oils exports also declined by 6.23% to $ 44.22 million during the same period, largely driven by a sharp 61.4% drop in pepper exports to India.