31.03.202618:24:49UTC+00Sri Lanka Balance Deficit Widens

Sri Lanka’s trade deficit widened to $776 million in February 2026, the largest gap in four months and a sharp increase from $411.3 million recorded a year earlier. The deterioration in the trade balance reflected import growth far outpacing only a marginal rise in exports.

Goods exports edged up 0.47% year-on-year to $1,057.8 million, supported by broad-based gains across most product categories. Exports of mining products surged 142.86%, driven largely by higher shipments of earths and stone. Agricultural exports rose 1.53%, with rubber making a notable contribution. By contrast, exports of industrial products slipped slightly, declining 0.06%.

Goods imports, however, increased markedly by 25.24% year-on-year to $1,833.8 million. Consumer goods imports jumped 35.7%, largely due to a surge in vehicle purchases: imports of personal vehicles, including commercial units, amounted to $204.8 million. Imports of investment goods also climbed 35%. These gains more than offset earlier weakness in intermediate goods, which had fallen 11.92% in the prior period but rebounded to grow 18.26% in February.