Sri Lanka’s exports rebound in April

• Export earnings reached US $ 1.29bn in April
• Cumulative exports for first four months up 8.74%
• Merchandise exports in April expanded 12% YoY while service exports up 0.59% YoY
• India climbs to second place among top markets

Sri Lanka’s export engine gathered pace in April 2025, marking an 8.74 percent year-on-year (YoY) growth, with earnings reaching US $ 1.29 billion. 
The latest data from the Export Development Board showed that total exports for the first four months of the year stood at US $ 5.52 billion, up 6.9 percent from a year earlier.
Driving April’s performance was a 12 percent uptick in merchandise exports, clocking in at US $ 983 million. Apparel led the charge, bringing in US $ 364.4 million, up 13.5 percent from a year ago, with improved orders from the US and Europe. 
Tea also regained footing, with export earnings up 12.4 percent to US $ 107.3 million, pushed by a 27.6 percent surge in packeted tea.
Iraq, Libya and Iran, three volatile but vital markets, showed extraordinary volume gains.
Adding to the positive sentiment was a strong showing from coconut-based products, which jumped 21.5 percent YoY in April, lifted by global demand for kernel, fibre and shell-based items.
Meanwhile, services exports brought in US $ 309.3 million, a 0.59 percent contraction YoY. A dip was seen in ICT/BPM (-4.91), construction services (-20.79) and financial services (-78.40), while transport and logistics expanded 12 percent YoY.  The cumulative earnings from services exports for the year expanded 7 percent to US $ 1.19 billion.
However, not all sectors fared equally. Rubber and rubber-finished goods fell 8.1 percent, largely due to the slumping tyre exports. Electronics exports contracted marginally, dragged down by the printed circuit boards and insulated wires and seafood exports dipped slightly amid the weaker demand for frozen fish and shrimp.
On the market front, the US remained Sri Lanka’s largest export destination. A 36.6 percent YoY surge in April pushed India into the second spot, overtaking the UK. Exports to India have risen nearly 40 percent this year to US $ 324.4 million, highlighting the changing trade flows in the region.

Apparel exports up 15% YoY 
Sri Lanka’s apparel exports recorded a strong performance in April 2025, with total exports rising by 15.14 percent compared to the same month last year.
This growth was driven by robust demand from key markets, including the USA (up 6.83 percent), EU (excluding UK) (up 27.04 percent) and UK (up 7.45 percent). Exports to other destinations also increased by 21.18 percent.
Cumulatively, from January to April 2025, total apparel exports reached US $ 1.66 billion, reflecting a 12.4 percent increase over the same period in 2024. Notably, exports to the EU rose by 18.13 percent, the USA by 10.06 percent and other markets by 13.56 percent, while the UK market grew by 6.26 percent.
“These results reaffirm the resilience and continued competitiveness of Sri Lanka’s apparel industry amid the ongoing global challenges,” said the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF).