Sri Lanka's trade deficit widened to USD 502 million in November 2024, compared to USD 390 million in the same month of the previous year. Exports fell by 0.5% to USD 994 million, driven by declines in industrial goods (-1.4%) due to lower sales of transport equipment, gems, diamonds, jewelry, and machinery. However, petroleum product exports grew notably, and agricultural exports rose, supported by increased volumes of spices, tea, and coconut-based products. In contrast, imports rose by 7.7% to USD 1,496 million, led by higher expenditure on consumer goods (+8.1%) and investment goods (+7.5%), reflecting increased imports of machinery, equipment, and food items. source: Central Bank of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka recorded a trade deficit of 502 USD Million in November of 2024. Balance of Trade in Sri Lanka averaged -503.22 USD Million from 2002 until 2024, reaching an all time high of 110.30 USD Million in August of 2002 and a record low of -1100.65 USD Million in November of 2011. This page provides the latest reported value for - Sri Lanka Balance of Trade - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news. Sri Lanka Balance of Trade - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on January of 2025.




Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2024-11-29 04:00 PM
Balance of Trade
Oct $-544M $-634M $700.0M
2024-12-31 04:00 PM
Balance of Trade
Nov $-502M $-544M
2025-01-31 03:00 PM
Balance of Trade
Dec $-502M $-620.0M


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Balance of Trade -502.00 -544.00 USD Million Nov 2024
Current Account 303.00 432.00 USD Million Sep 2024
Current Account to GDP 1.80 -2.00 percent of GDP Dec 2023
Exports 994.00 1158.00 USD Million Nov 2024
External Debt 56594.49 55996.47 USD Million Sep 2024
Foreign Direct Investment 45.40 384.25 USD Million Sep 2024
Imports 1496.00 1702.00 USD Million Nov 2024
Remittances 530.10 587.70 USD Million Nov 2024
Terms of Trade 90.35 87.14 points Nov 2024
Tourism Revenues 272.90 185.60 USD Million Nov 2024

Sri Lanka Balance of Trade
Sri Lanka exports mostly textiles and garments (40% of total exports) and tea (17%). Others include: spices, gems, coconut products, rubber and fish. Main export partners are United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and Italy. Sri Lanka imports petroleum, textile fabrics, foodstuffes and machinery and transportation equipment. Main import partners are India, China, Iran and Singapore.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-502.00 -544.00 110.30 -1100.65 2002 - 2024 USD Million Monthly


News Stream
Sri Lanka Trade Deficit Widend in November
Sri Lanka's trade deficit widened to USD 502 million in November 2024, compared to USD 390 million in the same month of the previous year. Exports fell by 0.5% to USD 994 million, driven by declines in industrial goods (-1.4%) due to lower sales of transport equipment, gems, diamonds, jewelry, and machinery. However, petroleum product exports grew notably, and agricultural exports rose, supported by increased volumes of spices, tea, and coconut-based products. In contrast, imports rose by 7.7% to USD 1,496 million, led by higher expenditure on consumer goods (+8.1%) and investment goods (+7.5%), reflecting increased imports of machinery, equipment, and food items.
2024-12-31
Sri Lanka Trade Deficit Shrinks in October
Sri Lanka's trade deficit narrowed to USD 544 million in October 2024, compared to USD 682 million in the same month of the previous year. Exports surged by 24.8% to USD 1,158 million, driven by significant increases in sales of food and live animals (+28.1%), mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (+135.6%), and miscellaneous manufactured articles (+23.9%). In contrast, imports rose modestly by 5.7% to USD 1,702.4 million, largely influenced by a sharp decline in purchases of mineral fuels, lubricants, and related materials (-31.9%).
2024-11-29
Sri Lanka Trade Deficit Hits 11-Month High
Sri Lanka trade deficit rose to USD 634 million in September 2024, up from USD 377 million in the corresponding month of the previous year, marking the highest deficit since October 2023. Imports surged 22% to $1,645 million, driven by higher purchases of food & live animals (+9.8%), chemicals & related products (+25.7%), manufactured goods (+28.6%) and machinery & transport equipment (+79.8%). Meanwhile, exports rose 4.1% to $1,011 million, led by higher sales of mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials (+62%) and miscellaneous manufactured articles (+17.4%).
2024-10-31