Sri Lanka’s total exports surpassed US$5.78 billion in the first four months of 2026, up 4.3% from the same period last year, according to the Export Development Board (EDB).
The cumulative figure of US$5,784.38 million covers both merchandise and services. In April alone, total exports reached US$1.38 billion, a 6% year-on-year rise, with merchandise exports up 9.87% to US$1.06 billion and services estimated at US$317.16 million. Over the four months, merchandise earnings climbed to US$4.52 billion, a 4.8% increase, while services exports reached US$1.26 billion.
EDB Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe said the figures underscored “the stability and resilience of Sri Lanka’s export sector, despite challenging global economic conditions,” crediting growing contributions from services and sustained demand for value-added products.
Among April’s strongest performers, electrical and electronic component exports jumped 41.51%, food and beverage exports surged 45.17%, and coconut-based products rose 23.49% on the back of activated carbon, coir, coconut oil and liquid coconut milk. Seafood exports gained 13.07%, ICT/BPM exports were estimated at US$146.09 million, and financial services exports grew 119.41%.
Two traditional pillars, however, continued to slide. Apparel and textile exports fell 4.88% to US$346.67 million on weaker demand from the United States, EU and UK, while tea earnings dropped 6.82% to US$100.02 million amid softer demand from Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Libya and the UAE.
The United States remained Sri Lanka’s largest export destination at around 22% of merchandise exports, while India overtook the United Kingdom to become the second-largest market over the period. The performance builds on a Q1 total of US$4.3 billion, with the EDB citing market diversification and the National Export Development Plan 2026–2030 as drivers of continued momentum.
