Certification requirements for food shipments, the rising cost of locally sourced rubber, logistics expenses and approval delays were the main concerns raised by sector representatives at the National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka council meeting.
The meeting was held on 17 September at the NCE secretariat, Hiru News reported.
Australian certification
The most prominent concern was the health and phytosanitary certification required for processed food shipments to Australia, which members said is causing considerable difficulty in clearing consignments.
Certain country-specific wording must appear on the certificate, and differences in the documentation issued in Sri Lanka have created problems for exporters. Some shipments have been held for several months over documentation issues. The matter has already been raised with Sri Lankan officials during discussions in Australia.
Rubber costs more at home than abroad
Sri Lanka’s rubber export earnings grew 3.17% year-on-year to US$ 87.24 million in July 2026, with industrial and surgical rubber gloves up 19.01% and gaskets, washers, seals and other hard rubber products up 47.56% against July 2025.
Despite those gains, members said Sri Lankan rubber is now more expensive than imported rubber even after shipping costs — so a large number of exporters are importing rather than buying locally, which is reducing local value addition. Exporters also said market prices had not risen in line with costs, and margins had fallen.
Tea and coconut
Tea export earnings fell 17.22% year-on-year to US$ 116.73 million in July 2026, driven mainly by declines in tea packets and bulk tea. Exporters have been seeking alternative logistics routes, but the cost of those alternatives remains a problem.
Concerns were also raised about the coconut sector’s capacity to meet future export targets, even as coconut shell-derived activated carbon exports grew 26.72% to US$ 24.28 million in July 2026.
Preferential trade agreements
The Council discussed the under-use of preferential trade agreements and the need for better exporter awareness of how they can be applied in overseas markets. The NCE said it plans to work with the authorities to raise awareness and examine the barriers limiting their use.
Total exports passed US$ 10 billion in the first seven months of 2026, up 5.5% year-on-year, with merchandise exports at US$ 8,188.32 million, up 5.05%.
Context
The figures sit alongside the Export Development Board’s report that total exports crossed US$ 12 billion over eight months. The rubber-pricing complaint echoes the warning from the new Planters’ Association chairman this week that disease threatening the rubber industry needs immediate attention.
Hiru does not name the sector representatives who raised each concern, or say what action the Council resolved on.
