Summary
- Exports
- $14.3billion
- Imports
- $19.2billion
- Trade balance
- -$4.9billion
Products
What it exports
Tea (9.5%) and bras and corsets (5%) together make up 14.5% of its exports.
What it imports
Refined petroleum (12.9%) and other knitted fabric (4.8%) together make up 17.7% of its imports.
By Harmonized System chapter (96)
| Chapter | Exports | Imports |
|---|---|---|
| 61 · Knitted clothing | $3.4 billion | $82 million |
| 62 · Woven clothing | $2.2 billion | $131 million |
| 09 · Coffee, tea and spices | $1.8 billion | $139 million |
| 40 · Rubber | $1.1 billion | $397 million |
| 71 · Gems and precious metals | $657 million | $192 million |
| 27 · Oil, gas and coal | $394 million | $4 billion |
| 85 · Electrical and electronic equipment | $377 million | $1.1 billion |
| 84 · Mechanical machinery | $344 million | $1.4 billion |
| 03 · Fish and seafood | $300 million | $107 million |
| 21 · Food preparations | $230 million | $91 million |
| 08 · Fruit and nuts | $203 million | $55 million |
| 38 · Miscellaneous chemicals | $186 million | $266 million |
| 88 · Aircraft and spacecraft | $181 million | $294 million |
| 20 · Preserved fruit and vegetables | $163 million | $18 million |
| 53 · Other plant fibers | $151 million | $41 million |
| 24 · Tobacco | $147 million | $77 million |
| 90 · Precision and medical instruments | $144 million | $251 million |
| 23 · Animal feed and food waste | $142 million | $221 million |
| 14 · Other plant products | $138 million | $5 million |
| 60 · Knitted fabric | $134 million | $958 million |
| 89 · Ships and boats | $123 million | $300 million |
| 63 · Home textiles and used clothing | $120 million | $23 million |
| 95 · Toys and sports gear | $106 million | $30 million |
| 15 · Fats and oils | $96 million | $315 million |
| 48 · Paper and paperboard | $82 million | $451 million |
| 22 · Beverages and spirits | $80 million | $56 million |
| 94 · Furniture and lighting | $73 million | $101 million |
| 39 · Plastics | $70 million | $725 million |
| 73 · Iron and steel products | $69 million | $281 million |
| 76 · Aluminum | $68 million | $156 million |
| 87 · Vehicles | $63 million | $307 million |
| 33 · Perfumes and cosmetics | $55 million | $74 million |
| 16 · Prepared meat and fish | $52 million | $14 million |
| 56 · Felt, nonwovens and rope | $49 million | $57 million |
| 11 · Milling products and malt | $48 million | $77 million |
| 58 · Special fabrics and lace | $47 million | $252 million |
| 49 · Books and printed matter | $46 million | $37 million |
| 96 · Other manufactured goods | $42 million | $78 million |
| 07 · Vegetables | $39 million | $420 million |
| 69 · Ceramics | $37 million | $85 million |
| 70 · Glass | $33 million | $59 million |
| 65 · Hats | $32 million | $3 million |
| 19 · Baked goods and cereal products | $32 million | $51 million |
| 54 · Synthetic filaments | $30 million | $452 million |
| 42 · Leather goods and bags | $27 million | $17 million |
| 74 · Copper | $26 million | $101 million |
| 64 · Footwear | $25 million | $26 million |
| 12 · Oilseeds and grains | $24 million | $38 million |
| 68 · Stone, plaster and cement articles | $24 million | $25 million |
| 47 · Wood pulp | $24 million | $11 million |
| 44 · Wood | $23 million | $58 million |
| 18 · Cocoa and chocolate | $22 million | $44 million |
| 25 · Salt, stone and cement | $18 million | $207 million |
| 10 · Cereals | $16 million | $454 million |
| 72 · Iron and steel | $15 million | $588 million |
| 55 · Synthetic staple fibers | $15 million | $386 million |
| 06 · Live plants and flowers | $14 million | $973 thousand |
| 52 · Cotton | $14 million | $619 million |
| 83 · Miscellaneous metal goods | $13 million | $105 million |
| 78 · Lead | $13 million | $2 million |
| 30 · Pharmaceuticals | $12 million | $481 million |
| 32 · Dyes, paints and tanning agents | $10 million | $161 million |
| 04 · Dairy, eggs and honey | $10 million | $231 million |
| 34 · Soap and cleaning products | $9 million | $73 million |
| 02 · Meat and offal | $8 million | $5 million |
| 26 · Ores and slag | $8 million | $18 million |
| 82 · Tools and cutlery | $8 million | $52 million |
| 28 · Inorganic chemicals | $8 million | $160 million |
| 35 · Glues, starches and enzymes | $7 million | $42 million |
| 59 · Coated and technical textiles | $7 million | $81 million |
| 57 · Carpets and rugs | $6 million | $8 million |
| 91 · Watches and clocks | $6 million | $12 million |
| 17 · Sugar and sweets | $5 million | $389 million |
| 29 · Organic chemicals | $5 million | $256 million |
| 31 · Fertilizers | $5 million | $201 million |
| 46 · Wicker and basketware | $3 million | $642 thousand |
| 86 · Railway equipment | $3 million | $15 million |
| 13 · Gums and plant extracts | $2 million | $6 million |
| 97 · Art and antiques | $1 million | $428 thousand |
| 36 · Explosives and matches | $1 million | $153 thousand |
| 66 · Umbrellas and canes | $1 million | $2 million |
| 01 · Live animals | $849 thousand | $5 million |
| 05 · Other animal products | $800 thousand | $2 million |
| 67 · Feathers and artificial flowers | $685 thousand | $410 thousand |
| 92 · Musical instruments | $467 thousand | $5 million |
| 37 · Photographic goods | $376 thousand | $16 million |
| 51 · Wool | $344 thousand | $11 million |
| 41 · Hides and leather | $205 thousand | $13 million |
| 79 · Zinc | $179 thousand | $13 million |
| 43 · Fur and fur goods | $170 thousand | $409 thousand |
| 93 · Weapons and ammunition | $148 thousand | $4 million |
| 75 · Nickel | $61 thousand | $678 thousand |
| 50 · Silk | $38 thousand | $27 million |
| 80 · Tin | $26 thousand | $2 million |
| 81 · Other base metals | $21 thousand | $5 million |
| 45 · Cork | $19 thousand | $137 thousand |
Trading partners
Its main destination is the United States (22.1% of exports) and its main source is China (22.9% of imports).
Who it sells to
| Partner | Value (USD billions) | Share | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | 3.2 | 22.1% | Sea |
| India | 1.1 | 7.5% | Sea |
| Germany | 0.92 | 6.4% | Sea |
| United Kingdom | 0.84 | 5.9% | Sea |
| Italy | 0.55 | 3.9% | Sea |
| France | 0.46 | 3.2% | Sea |
| Netherlands | 0.4 | 2.8% | Sea |
| Canada | 0.38 | 2.7% | Sea |
| China | 0.35 | 2.5% | Sea |
| United Arab Emirates | 0.34 | 2.4% | Sea |
Who it buys from
| Partner | Value (USD billions) | Share | Mode |
|---|---|---|---|
| China | 4.4 | 22.9% | Sea |
| India | 4.2 | 22.1% | Sea |
| United Arab Emirates | 1.4 | 7.1% | Sea |
| Singapore | 1.3 | 6.6% | Sea |
| Malaysia | 0.71 | 3.7% | Sea |
| Russia | 0.54 | 2.8% | Sea |
| Pakistan | 0.45 | 2.3% | Sea |
| Indonesia | 0.44 | 2.3% | Sea |
| United States | 0.44 | 2.3% | Sea |
| Oman | 0.39 | 2% | Sea |
Overview 1995–2024
In 2024, Sri Lanka accounted for 0.06% of world exports, compared with 0.07% in 1995.
Exports and imports
Exports quadrupled since 1995
USD billions (current). Bars: trade balance (green surplus, red deficit).
- Exports 14.3
- Imports 19.2
- Balance -4.9
Source: CEPII BACI
Show the numbers
| Year | Exports | Imports | Trade balance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | $3.4 billion | $4.2 billion | -$764 million |
| 1996 | $3.8 billion | $4 billion | -$246 million |
| 1997 | $4.2 billion | $4.6 billion | -$397 million |
| 1998 | $4.3 billion | $4.8 billion | -$466 million |
| 1999 | $5.2 billion | $6.3 billion | -$1.2 billion |
| 2000 | $6.3 billion | $7.3 billion | -$923 million |
| 2001 | $5.9 billion | $6 billion | -$113 million |
| 2002 | $5.9 billion | $6.6 billion | -$697 million |
| 2003 | $6.1 billion | $7.3 billion | -$1.2 billion |
| 2004 | $7.2 billion | $8.7 billion | -$1.5 billion |
| 2005 | $7.5 billion | $9.1 billion | -$1.6 billion |
| 2006 | $8.3 billion | $10.8 billion | -$2.5 billion |
| 2007 | $9.1 billion | $12.2 billion | -$3.1 billion |
| 2008 | $10 billion | $14.8 billion | -$4.9 billion |
| 2009 | $8.6 billion | $10.3 billion | -$1.7 billion |
| 2010 | $9.5 billion | $13.7 billion | -$4.3 billion |
| 2011 | $11.5 billion | $20.9 billion | -$9.4 billion |
| 2012 | $10.9 billion | $18.9 billion | -$8 billion |
| 2013 | $11 billion | $19.7 billion | -$8.6 billion |
| 2014 | $12.2 billion | $22.9 billion | -$10.6 billion |
| 2015 | $11.9 billion | $22 billion | -$10.2 billion |
| 2016 | $11.7 billion | $20.8 billion | -$9.2 billion |
| 2017 | $12.7 billion | $22.7 billion | -$10 billion |
| 2018 | $12.3 billion | $20 billion | -$7.7 billion |
| 2019 | $13.4 billion | $20.5 billion | -$7.1 billion |
| 2020 | $11.7 billion | $16.5 billion | -$4.8 billion |
| 2021 | $14.3 billion | $22.3 billion | -$7.9 billion |
| 2022 | $15.5 billion | $18.6 billion | -$3.1 billion |
| 2023 | $14 billion | $17.4 billion | -$3.4 billion |
| 2024 | $14.3 billion | $19.2 billion | -$4.9 billion |
World rank
Sri Lanka fell from 71st to 88th among the world's exporters
Rank among 222 countries by export value (1st at the top).
- 71st in 1995
- 88th in 2024
Source: CEPII BACI
Show the numbers
| Year | Rank |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 71st |
| 1996 | 73rd |
| 1997 | 74th |
| 1998 | 74th |
| 1999 | 72nd |
| 2000 | 71st |
| 2001 | 72nd |
| 2002 | 74th |
| 2003 | 79th |
| 2004 | 79th |
| 2005 | 78th |
| 2006 | 85th |
| 2007 | 85th |
| 2008 | 88th |
| 2009 | 84th |
| 2010 | 90th |
| 2011 | 92nd |
| 2012 | 91st |
| 2013 | 93rd |
| 2014 | 90th |
| 2015 | 84th |
| 2016 | 84th |
| 2017 | 84th |
| 2018 | 88th |
| 2019 | 87th |
| 2020 | 87th |
| 2021 | 86th |
| 2022 | 89th |
| 2023 | 91st |
| 2024 | 88th |
What it sells
Knitted clothing became its top export group: from 14% to 23%
% of exports by Harmonized System chapter.
- Other 28%
- Mechanical machinery 2%
- Electrical and electronic equipment 3%
- Oil, gas and coal 3%
- Gems and precious metals 5%
- Rubber 8%
- Coffee, tea and spices 12%
- Woven clothing 16%
- Knitted clothing 23%
Source: CEPII BACI
Show the numbers
| Chapter | 1995 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Knitted clothing | 13.6% | 23.5% |
| Woven clothing | 35.3% | 15.5% |
| Coffee, tea and spices | 8.1% | 12.3% |
| Rubber | 6.6% | 8% |
| Gems and precious metals | 7.1% | 4.6% |
| Oil, gas and coal | 0.42% | 2.8% |
| Electrical and electronic equipment | 1.7% | 2.6% |
| Mechanical machinery | 1.3% | 2.4% |
| Other | 25.8% | 28.3% |
Who it trades with
China went from 2% to 14% of Sri Lanka's trade
% of total trade (exports + imports) with each partner.
- India 16%
- China 14%
- United States 11%
- United Arab Emirates 5%
- Singapore 4%
Source: CEPII BACI
Show the numbers
| Partner | 1995 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| India | 5.6% | 15.9% |
| China | 2.1% | 14.2% |
| United States | 21.1% | 10.8% |
| United Arab Emirates | 0% | 5.1% |
| Singapore | 5.5% | 4.1% |
Production hubs
Sources and methodology
Sources and licenses
- CEPII BACI · Licence Ouverte Etalab 2.0
- Climate TRACE · CC BY 4.0 (emissions by asset; the 3 largest per country are shown)
- Kummu et al., gridded GDP · CC BY 4.0 (hubs aggregated by this site)
- Natural Earth · Public domain
Methodology
Goods trade from CEPII BACI (BACI_HS92_V202601), in current US dollars, with exports and imports reconciled between countries. The transport mode is our own estimate based on value per kilo and geography. Ranks are computed among the countries with data each year. Services are not included. Data up to 2024.