FX.co ★ Sri Lanka Trade Deficit Widens in September

In September 2025, Sri Lanka's trade deficit expanded to USD 910.1 million, a significant increase from USD 634.0 million recorded in the same month the previous year. This was primarily driven by a 24.5% year-on-year surge in imports, reaching USD 2,048.6 million. The sharp rise in imports was notably fueled by consumer goods, which soared by 86.2%, non-consumer goods that saw an impressive 174.7% increase—especially in medical and pharmaceutical products at 19.9%—as well as intermediate goods, which rose by 13.4%, and capital goods by 6.8%. Notably, vehicle imports, encompassing both personal and commercial vehicles, amounted to USD 286 million. On the export front, there was a 12.5% growth, bringing the total to USD 1,138.5 million. This growth was largely attributed to a doubling of shipments of mineral and other products by 100.3%. Meanwhile, agricultural exports saw a robust 26.3% rise, and industrial shipments experienced an 8% increase.