The performance of Sri Lanka’s export sector managed to manage its growth momentum in May 2021 with the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to statistics released by Sri Lanka Customs, Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports in May 2021 amounted to US $ 884.2 million, an increase of 50.71% from US $ 586.7 million US in May 2020.
Sri Lanka’s merchandise exports in January-May 2021 amounted to US $ 4,583.56 million, an increase of 32.61% from US $ 3,456.32 million in January-May 2020.
Export performance of goods Values in US $ millions
| Merchandise exports |
january-may 2019 |
january-may 2020 |
january-may 2021 |
% growth (20-21) |
May 2020 |
May 2021 |
% growth (20-21) |
|
Clothing |
2 248.68 |
1,534.61 |
2,064.17 |
34.51 |
218.83 |
370.87 |
69.48 |
|
Tea |
571.77 |
456.72 |
526.62 |
3:30 p.m. |
108.28 |
109.23 |
0.88 |
|
Rubber products |
376.33 |
280.31 |
424.47 |
51.43 |
51.19 |
91.18 |
78.12 |
|
Coconut products |
259.50 |
216.63 |
317.19 |
46.42 |
51.80 |
66.71 |
28.78 |
|
Electronics and electronic components |
162.26 |
113.07 |
164.28 |
45.29 |
21.66 |
35.19 |
62.47 |
|
Spices and concentrates |
119.65 |
82.77 |
162.01 |
95.74 |
19.29 |
25.24 |
30.84 |
|
Food and drinks |
158.57 |
124.70 |
147.66 |
18.41 |
23.88 |
30.23 |
26.59 |
|
Diamonds, precious stones and jewelry |
134.50 |
61.04 |
107.04 |
75.36 |
6.61 |
14.19 |
114.67 |
|
Seafood |
122.18 |
74.79 |
90.60 |
21.14 |
11.53 |
15.05 |
30.53 |
|
Ornamental fish |
6.91 |
4.40 |
5.94 |
35.00 |
0.46 |
0.90 |
95.65 |
|
Other export crops |
11.82 |
29.85 |
23.53 |
-21.17 |
5.08 |
4.53 |
-10.83 |
|
Vegetables |
13.53 |
9.66 |
9.57 |
-0.93 |
1.75 |
1.74 |
-0.57 |
|
Fruits |
17.97 |
14.19 |
14.82 |
4.44 |
2.83 |
2.84 |
0.35 |
|
Flowers & Foliage |
8.36 |
5.16 |
5.69 |
10.27 |
0.80 |
0.94 |
17.50 |
|
Boat building |
2.86 |
1.33 |
1.48 |
11.28 |
0.42 |
0.53 |
26.19 |
|
Oil products |
133.45 |
141.01 |
51.12 |
-63.75 |
27.07 |
27.71 |
2.36 |
|
Other |
497.38 |
306.08 |
467.37 |
52.70 |
35.22 |
87.14 |
147.42 |
| Total merchandise exports | 4 845.72 | 3456.32 | 4,583.56 | 32.61 | 586.70 | 884.22 | 50.71 |
Top 10 export destinations
| Country |
january-may 2020 |
january-may 2021 |
% growth (20-21) |
May 2020 |
May 2021 |
% growth (20-21) | |
|
1 |
United States |
905.10 |
1,133.71 |
25.26 |
145.51 |
213.11 |
46.46 |
|
2 |
UK |
296.21 |
366.53 |
23.74 |
42.56 |
72.29 |
69.85 |
|
3 |
India |
220.53 |
302.63 |
37.23 |
38.08 |
55.28 |
45.17 |
|
4 |
Germany |
195.85 |
286.00 |
46.03 |
35.63 |
53.80 |
51.00 |
|
5 |
Italy |
135.66 |
226.02 |
66.61 |
09/18 |
40.45 |
123.60 |
|
6 |
Belgium |
94.35 |
132.18 |
40.10 |
15.65 |
26.71 |
70.67 |
|
7 |
Netherlands |
88.16 |
162.10 |
83.87 |
16.56 |
27.11 |
63.71 |
|
8 |
China |
71.21 |
116.96 |
64.25 |
12.96 |
20.91 |
61.34 |
|
9 |
Canada |
71.92 |
114.98 |
59.87 |
12.73 |
20.47 |
60.80 |
|
ten |
turkey |
68.27 |
81.43 |
19.28 |
15.72 |
15.98 |
1.65 |
|
Other markets |
1 309.07 |
1,661.04 |
26.89 |
233.21 |
338.11 |
44.98 |
|
| Total merchandise exports | 3456.32 | 4583.56 | 32.61 | 586.70 | 884.22 | 50.71 |
Export regions
| Region |
january-may 2020 |
january-may 2021 |
% growth (20-21) |
May 2020 |
May 2021 |
% growth (20-21) |
|
EU excluding UK |
741.95 |
1,135.99 |
53.11 |
128.84 |
210.05 |
63.03 |
|
United States |
905.10 |
1,133.71 |
25.26 |
145.51 |
213.11 |
46.46 |
|
South Asia |
333.13 |
455.88 |
36.85 |
50.58 |
94.87 |
87.56 |
|
ASEAN countries |
80.79 |
123.63 |
53.03 |
14.94 |
23.58 |
57.83 |
|
CIS countries |
118.30 |
112.52 |
-4.89 |
16.60 |
22.94 |
38.19 |
|
African countries |
102.96 |
102.58 |
-0.37 |
22.99 |
20.01 |
-12.96 |
|
Middle Eastern countries (excluding Cyprus and Egypt) |
278.86 |
310.32 |
11.28 |
62.14 |
66.39 |
6.84 |
|
Other |
895.23 |
1 208.93 |
35.04 |
145.10 |
233.27 |
60.76 |
| Total merchandise exports | 3456.32 | 4583.56 | 32.61 | 586.70 | 884.22 | 50.71 |
Export of services
EDB’s estimated service exports which include ICT / BPM, construction, financial services, and transportation and logistics show exports of US $ 1,194.3 million for the period January to April 2021, compared to 1,021 , US $ 9 million recorded in the corresponding period of 2020.
Estimated service exports increased by 16.87% in the first four months of 2021 compared to the corresponding period of 2020.
