November 25, Colombo (LNW): Sri Lanka has posted its strongest export performance to date, with Customs data showing that total export earnings for the first ten months of 2025 reached US$ 14,433.82 million—well above the level recorded during the same period last year.
The Export Development Board (EDB) confirmed that this is the first time the country has crossed the US$ 14 billion threshold between January and October, marking a significant milestone for the national economy. Overall, exports expanded by 6 per cent during the period, a figure that includes provisional data from the Gems and Jewellery and Petroleum Products sectors.
One of the standout achievements was the performance of coconut-based industries, which topped US$ 1 billion in earnings for the first time within a ten-month span, signalling strong global demand and improved domestic processing capacity.
EDB Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mangala Wijesinghe said the results illustrated both the resilience and adaptability of Sri Lankan exporters. “This is the highest export total ever recorded for this ten-month period,” he noted, adding that renewed stability in key Western markets and consistent output from local producers have played crucial roles in the sector’s momentum. He further observed that the country has already realised 80 per cent of its US$ 18 billion export target for the year.
Export earnings in October 2025 alone amounted to US$ 1,474.38 million—covering goods and services—a 2.2 per cent rise compared with September. Year-on-year growth was modest at 0.16 per cent, but officials stressed that the steady performance reflects the continued strength of Sri Lanka’s export strategies, including efforts to broaden market access and enhance global competitiveness.
Services exports remain an increasingly important pillar of the sector. Provisional figures show that services generated US$ 316.14 million in October, while the cumulative total for the first ten months of 2025 reached US$ 3,060.21 million—a 4.01 per cent increase.
The services segment, driven by ICT/BPM, construction, financial services and transport and logistics, is not only diversifying the country’s export profile but also creating more high-value job opportunities across Sri Lanka.
