Sri Lanka’s exports rose 5.56 percent year-on-year (YoY) in November 2025 to US $ 1.36 billion, supported by a steady growth in both merchandise shipments and services earnings, as the exporters sustained momentum amid the fragile global trade conditions, the official data showed.Total exports in November, including merchandise and services, reached an estimated US $ 1.36 billion, reflecting what the authorities described as the effectiveness of the efforts to expand market access and strengthen competitiveness.Merchandise exports increased 5.95 percent from a year earlier to US $ 1.05 billion in November, based on the provisional Sri Lanka Customs data, including the estimates for gems and jewellery and petroleum products. Services exports rose 4.27 percent YoY to an estimated US $ 311.3 million during the month, underlining the growing contribution of the services sector to overall export earnings.Export Development Board (EDB) Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mangala Wijesinghe said the November performance reflected the resilience of Sri Lanka’s export sector and its ability to navigate the evolving global challenges.“Sri Lanka’s export earnings during the January-November 2025 period reached US $ 15.78 billion, reflecting a strong YoY growth,” Wijesinghe said, adding that the results were supported by the recovery of key markets, sustained production capacity and effective implementation of the export development strategies.He said the encouraging performance highlighted Sri Lanka’s deeper integration into global trade, with continued emphasis on enhancing export competitiveness and market diversification. “The exporters have demonstrated resilience and innovation in responding to the global challenges,” he said.Exports to several of Sri Lanka’s major markets recorded growth in November, with the United States, India, Italy, Germany, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, France and China all posting YoY increases, the EDB said.The United States, Sri Lanka’s largest single export destination, accounting for about 23 percent of merchandise exports, recorded a 3.97 percent rise in shipments in November to US $ 236.2 million. India, now Sri Lanka’s second-largest export market, ahead of the United Kingdom, saw exports surge 25.77 percent YoY in November to US $ 88.43 million.By contrast, exports to the United Kingdom declined 8.28 percent in November to US $ 62.92 million, reflecting softer demand during the month.For the first 11 months of 2025, Sri Lanka’s exports rose 5.8 percent YoY to an estimated US $ 15.78 billion, based on the Customs data and estimates for gems and jewellery, petroleum products and services.Merchandise exports during the January-November period increased 6.41 percent to US $ 12.42 billion, while services exports rose about 3.6 percent to US $ 3.36 billion, driven by ICT and business process management, construction, financial services and transport and logistics.Wijesinghe said Sri Lanka had achieved more than 86 percent of its annual export target by the end of November, calling it “a clear indication of the strength and com
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