Sri Lankan exports exceed USD 9 billion in first half of 2026

Colombo, Jul 22 (PTI) Sri Lanka’s total earnings from exports exceeded USD nine billion in the first half of 2026, recording over an eight per cent year-on-year increase, an official said on Wednesday.

For the first time, Sri Lankan exports fetched USD 9.012 billion between January and June of 2026, the Chairman of the Export Development Board, Mangala Wijesinghe, told reporters here.

The growth signifies an over eight per cent gain over the same period in 2025, Wijesinghe said.

He said the June 2026 growth had been over 12 per cent compared with June of 2025. “The Export sector has shown a significant performance. We have reached a USD 1,658 million (USD 1.658 billion) value in the month of June. This is over 12 per cent growth over June of last

year,” he said.

Sector-wise, mainly electrical, electronics, rubber goods, spices, food and beverage have grown, while in the services sector IT and logistics have grown.

Sri Lankan export sector was hampered by the US-Iran military conflict with escalating freight, insurance and increased raw material costs, Wijesinghe said.

The apparel sector leads the island’s exports, with coconut, rubber, jewellery and food and beverage sectors coming next.

The US is the main export market, followed by India, Italy, Australia, Japan, Mexico and China, Wijesinghe said.

He said the Export Development Board’s 2026-30 growth plan had just been approved with an export target of USD 36 billion by 2030. PTI CORR RD RD RD