Sri Lanka’s export sector has posted a strong performance in the first four months of 2025, with total export earnings reaching US$5.58 billion, marking a 6.9% growth over the same period last year, according to the Sri Lanka Export Development Board (EDB).
April alone contributed US$1.29 billion to this total, showing an 8.74% year-on-year increase, highlighting continued resilience and adaptability among Sri Lankan exporters in a shifting global trade environment.
EDB Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe attributed this growth to the success of long-term strategies aimed at improving trade access and competitiveness. “This strong growth demonstrates how Sri Lanka is integrating more closely into the global trade network,” he said, noting the sector’s flexibility in responding to global economic trends.
Based on provisional data from the Sri Lanka Customs Department, merchandise exports in April alone grew by 12.05%, reaching US$983.33 million. From January to April 2025, merchandise exports totalled US$4.33 billion, a 6.86% increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Meanwhile, the services export sector showed robust performance, with US$309.3 million earned in April and a cumulative US$1.18 billion from January to April an increase of 7.06% year-on-year.
The expansion of sectors like ICT, Business Process Management (BPM), Construction, Financial Services, and Transport & Logistics contributed significantly to this growth, signaling a shift towards a more diversified, knowledge-based economy. These industries are not only boosting exports but are also generating high-value employment across the country.
The EDB noted that these results reflect both strategic economic planning and the growing sophistication of Sri Lanka’s export capabilities, positioning the nation to strengthen its footprint in global markets moving forward.
