Written by Marijn Overvest | Reviewed by Sjoerd Goedhart | Fact Checked by Ruud Emonds | Our editorial policy

Sri Lanka’s Import and Export Statistical Figures in 2025

Here are some of the key figures for Sri Lanka this 2025.

1. Roughly $3 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) approved for Sri Lanka

The IMF (The International Monetary Fund) approved an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) for Sri Lanka after extended negotiations.

The EFF is valued at roughly $3 billion over four years to help Sri Lanka’s efforts to gather financing and first tranche of disbursement with a value of $330 million.

2. Sri Lanka’s GDP is projected to contract by roughly 3%

According to the U.S. Department of State, it was predicted that Sri Lanka’s GDP would contract by roughly 3% but would continue towards positive growth in 2025. Inflation has declined but remained high.

Tight monetary policy including high interest rates adopted by The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has likely contributed to the economic contraction. 

3. Sri Lanka tourism has two consecutive monthly arrivals of over 100,000

A key foreign exchange earner for the country is Tourism. Tourism however took a sharp downward turn and slowly started to recover with 100,000 consecutive monthly arrivals, reports the U.S. Department of State. 

This has been the first time numbers reached that high in 5 years although it still did not reach the peak arrival numbers of the same year.

4. Sri Lanka eliminated customs duties on 50% of tariff lines

The Sri Lanka-Singapore Free Trade Agreement’s renewed implementations cover investment, goods, services, trade facilitation, government procurement, telecommunications, e-commerce, and dispute settlement.

Sri Lanka eliminated customs duties on 50% of tariff lines, which will progressively increase to 80% over the next 14 years. The remaining 20% of tariff lines will not be reduced or have eliminated duties. 

5. Sri Lanka’s SDFR and SLFR stood at 15.50% and 16.50%

Sri Lanka has been stabilizing basket goods prices due to high inflation rates. It saw the Standing Deposit Facility Rate (SDFR) at 15.50% while the Standing Lending Facility Rate (SLFR) was at 16.50%, says the U.S. Department of State.

6.  The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka increased tariffs by 66%

The World Bank states that foreign investment in Sri Lanka’s power sector has been in decline due to policy uncertainties and the risk of currency depreciation.

The Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka (PUCSL) has increased tariffs by an average of  66%.

7. Sri Lanka achieves $2.4 billion in usable official reserves

Inflows from development partners and the continuing external debt service suspension helped Sri Lanka achieve usable official reserves of about 5-6 weeks of imports.

The 5-6 week worth of usable official reserves was valued at $2.4 billion, according to the Indian Council of World Affairs.

8. Sri Lanka determined to reduce annual gross financing needs by 1.5% of GDP in 2032

The Sri Lankan government aims to reduce annual gross financing needs by 1.5% of GDP in 2032 by implementing a domestic debt optimization strategy aimed at reducing annual gross financing needs, according to The World Bank.

The authorities are also expected to reach an agreement with external private creditors on comparable terms.

9. Nominal tax revenue collection in Sri Lanka increased by 36.6% 

Nominal tax revenue collection in Sri Lanka increased by 36.6%, according to The World Bank

 However, even then revenue collection has remained below the approved budget. To ensure that the tax system is efficient, sustainable, and equitable, more reforms are needed.

10. Sri Lanka’s real GDP declined by 7.9%

Sri Lanka’s real GDP declined by 7.9%, according to The World Bank. Industrial activity also declined by 18.3% due to contractions in construction and manufacturing.

Overall contraction in the services sector (3.2%, y-o-y) was due to large contractions in financial services, insurance, and real estate.

11. Sri Lanka’s total cement consumption (both locally produced and imported) declined by 32.5%

Many high-frequency indicators show that Sri Lanka’s economic activities have been weak. The total cement consumption (both locally produced and imported) declined by 32.5% (y-o-y) which reflects deep contractions in the construction sector, reports The World Bank.

12. Inflation in Sri Lanka will reach 4% in August 2025

The Asian Development Bank states that from 69.8%, Sri Lanka’s inflation rate was able to reach single digits (6.3%) after 19 months. Furthermore, Sri Lanka’s inflation rate dropped to a figure of 4% by August of 2025.

13. 16.2% of children under 5 are underweight in Sri Lanka

Poverty continues to rack Sri Lanka but its increase has slowed down. According to The World Bank, many households faced falling incomes which resulted in things like 16.2% of children under the age of 5 being underweight in Sri Lanka as shown in data.

14. Sri Lanka interest rates on new lending at 19.3%

Growth in credit to the private sector from banks has been slowing down due to economic uncertainty, higher nominal interest rates, and an appreciation of the rupee (on loan book valuation).

Even with Sri Lanka’s recent downward trends new lending, according to The World Bank, saw that average interest rates were still high at 19.3% with the continuation of subdued financial intermediation. 

15. Tourist arrivals in Sri Lanka soared by 275.6%

The figures for foreign tourists arriving in Sri Lanka soared by 275.6% year-on-year to 111,938 which follows a 61.2% advance in August despite the still recovering tourism sector.

The main percentage ages of foreign tourists is India (27%), followed by China (8%) and the United Kingdom (7%), all of which are according to Trading Economics.

16. Producer prices in Sri Lanka fell by 6.5%

After an upwardly revised 4.1% fall in July, Sri Lanka’s producer prices fell by 6.5% year-on-year, according to Trading Economics.

This marked the 3rd consecutive month of deflation due to a decline in manufacturing costs (-9.2% vs -7.5% in July) and the falling of agricultural prices (-2.6% vs 1%).

17. Sri Lanka’s total revenue increased by 30%(y-o-y)

The total revenue of Sri Lanka increased by 30%(y-o-y) due to higher collection of Value Added Tax (VAT) plus personal and corporate income tax according to The World Bank. This is because of higher rates, lower thresholds, and fewer exemptions in the case of income taxes.

18. Sri Lanka planned to increase taxes as a share of GDP to 14.0% by 2025

In order to strengthen fiscal sustainability both tax policy and administration measures are needed. Sri Lanka plans an ambitious revenue-led fiscal consolidation with a planned increase in taxes as a share of GDP from a low of 7.3% to 14.0% by 2025, says The World Bank.

19. Sri Lanka’s domestic debt restructuring is expected to reduce the annual government financial needs (GFN) by 1.5% of GDP

The government is implementing vital structural reforms in areas like monetary policy, debt management, and anti-corruption. These reforms aim to boost economic stability and global supply chain competitiveness.

This also means that domestic debt restructuring is expected to reduce the annual government financial needs (GFN) by 1.5% of GDP on average from 2027 to 2032, according to The World Bank.

20. Sri Lanka has set a target of  achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050

For the sake of development, the government of Sri Lanka has a National Climate Change Policy.

The country hopes to attain net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and has set a target of achieving 70% of all its energy requirements from renewable sources by 2030, according to the U.S. Department of State.

Some Things to Note About Sri Lanka

International Loans

Loans and loan restructuring programs are crucial for sustaining the country. 

Fortunately, China ($7 billion) and India ($1 billion) have agreed to extend the repayment period, while the International Monetary Fund ($3 billion) and the World Bank ($600 million) are providing much-needed support for Sri Lanka’s challenging economic recovery journey.

But help alone won’t save its economy, Sri Lanka’s imports and exports must be aligned with the country’s current capacity as well since they play a pivotal role in shaping its economy.

Tourism Industry

Tourism is a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s economy, contributing to 40% of its GDP. Unfortunately, the pandemic and security concerns caused a significant drop in tourism, reducing its contribution to 60%.

Nevertheless, there was a pleasant surprise, as the country welcomed 112,991 visitors, surpassing the projected 90,000 arrivals. The majority of these tourists come from Russia, India, the UK, and Germany, offering a much-needed boost to the country’s vital tourism sector.

Tea Industry

Sri Lanka’s central highlands, combined with its temperate climate, consistent annual rainfall, and optimal soil conditions, have positioned it as the world’s third-largest tea exporter.

Furthermore, the ban on glyphosate has led to the production of 251 million kilos of organic tea, making Ceylon tea a preferred choice in Europe.

These key economic drivers underscore the country’s potential for a strong rebound if managed effectively.

Conclusion

Sri Lanka’s tax system is undergoing crucial reform to address a prolonged decline in revenue.

To ensure the success of short-to-medium-term policy recommendations, it’s essential to prevent policy reversals, expand the tax base, enhance fairness, and guide revenue adjustments strategically.

Consistently implementing this reform plan will boost revenues, support economic recovery, and establish a resilient tax system for fiscal sustainability and improved public services.