Sri Lanka Merchandise Exports Reach Record US$1.38 Billion in September
Summary Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports rose 21% year on year to a record US$1.377 billion in September 2026, supported by strong petroleum and machinery earnings. The performance lifted nine-month goods exports to US$10.75 billion,…
Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports rose 21% year on year to a record US$1.377 billion in September 2026, supported by strong petroleum and machinery earnings. The performance lifted nine-month goods exports to US$10.75 billion, although the broader export picture remained uneven across industries and overseas markets.
Sri Lanka merchandise exports reached their highest monthly value in September, exceeding the previous peak of US$1.302 billion recorded in July 2025. The latest Central Bank figures put the increase above that earlier record at approximately US$75 million, or 5.8%.
Industrial export earnings grew 27.7% compared with September 2025. Petroleum products generated US$149.9 million, an increase of 130%, while machinery and mechanical appliances earned US$70 million, up 72%.
Together, these two categories contributed almost US$220 million, equivalent to approximately 16% of September’s merchandise export earnings. Their performance gave the monthly total a substantial boost beyond Sri Lanka’s established agricultural and garment exports.
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