Sri Lanka’s rubber manufacturers are preparing for the eventual implementation of the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) this December, according to Plastics and Rubber Institute of Sri Lanka President K. A. C. Vidyaratne.

Speaking to media on Wednesday (30), Vidyaratne said: “We are going to have a special regulation called the EUDR coming from December 2025, and will be regulated by January 2026 by the European Union.”

In 2024, Sri Lanka exported roughly $ 179.77 million in exports to the EU, of which $ 102.46 million were of vulcanised rubber products such as waterproof jackets, boots, and other clothes items, $ 44.53 million from pneumatic tires, $ 26.49 million from other articles and $ 6.29 million from exporting natural rubber.

“There are many regulations we adhere to, especially the EUDR. My personal understanding is that the EU is the region with the highest regulations. We have a monthly webinar series, and we conducted two international workshops with international experts visiting Sri Lanka,” Vidyaratne said, responding to the concern of educating industry persons in preparation for the roll-out of the standards.

In terms of progress on furthering sustainability within the industry, Vidyaratne said that the Institute has made continued efforts to educate industry manufacturers and engineers with the knowledge that it accesses from abroad.

Sri Lanka’s rubber industry to the US in 2024 raked in $ 330 million, a sum earning substantially higher than that earned from the EU. Amidst the tariff regulations that are to be implemented by Washington in August, manufacturers and exporters are considering the possibility of diversifying their export destinations, in a bid to secure more stable export destinations.

Sri Lanka’s rubber competitor nations Vietnam and Indonesia have secured 20% and 19% tariff rates with the US, respectively, as Sri Lanka is to be levelled a 30% tariff from 1 August.