Sri Lanka’s exports rise 5% to US$13.6 billion in first nine months of 2026

Lanka Business Online and Daily Mirror report that Sri Lanka’s total export earnings reached US$13.61 billion in the first nine months of 2026, a 5.04% increase from US$12.96 billion in the same period of 2025. Lanka Business Online attributes the figures to Sri Lanka Customs data, together with Export Development Board estimates for gems and jewellery and petroleum products; Daily Mirror attributes the total to the EDB. Newsfirst and Newswire also report the US$13.61 billion total, while Ada Derana reports earnings exceeded US$13.6 billion.

Lanka Business Online reports merchandise exports grew 5.35% to US$10.76 billion from January to September, while services exports rose 3.88% to US$2.85 billion. In September, total exports were US$1.69 billion, up 17.23% year on year; merchandise exports increased 21.66% to US$1.39 billion and services exports rose 0.67% to US$306.17 million, according to Lanka Business Online. Daily Mirror likewise reports September earnings of US$1.69 billion and says merchandise shipments drove the increase.

EconomyNext reports that September services export growth included a 166.04% rise in financial services earnings to US$7.64 million and a 23.32% rise in transport and logistics to US$167.90 million. It reports construction earnings fell 43.05% to US$6.82 million and ICT/BPM earnings declined 19.15% to US$123.81 million. The outlet puts January–September services exports at US$2,850.63 million, up 3.88%.

Lanka Business Online reports apparel exports increased 3.47% in September to US$416.99 million, led by the US and EU markets excluding the UK, but fell 5.52% across January–September to US$3,588.46 million. It reports nine-month declines in all major markets, with the UK down 10.85%, the EU down 5.44%, other destinations down 5.43% and the US down 3.69%. The outlet also describes stronger competition in Europe as Chinese and Indian suppliers redirect attention there amid higher US tariffs, citing industry representatives and US import data.

Daily Mirror reports seafood export earnings declined 2.03% year on year to US$180.81 million in the first nine months, mainly because frozen and fresh or chilled fish exports weakened. Daily Mirror also says nine-month results were weighed down by declines in apparel and tea. Hiru News reports that export growth was 5% overall but only 2% when petroleum was excluded; the supplied report does not provide further figures for that comparison.