Top Sri Lanka Imports 2018
In 2018, Sri Lanka bought US$18.7 billion worth of imported products down by -2.7% since 2014 and down by -12.1% from 2017 to 2018.
Top 10 Sri Lankan Imports from China
India's exports to Sri Lanka amounted to
$4.5 billion or 21.1% of its overall imports.
1. Mineral fuels including oil: $695.2 million
2. Vehicles: $537.8 million
3. Iron and steel: $292.5 million
4. Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $291.7 million
5. Cereals: $241.4 million
6. Cotton: $232.8 million
7. Machinery: $218.1 million
8. Pharmaceuticals: $208.5 million
9. Knitted or crocheted fabric: $132.6 million
10. Arms, ammunition: $121.2 million
Top 10 Sri Lankan Imports from India
China's exports to Sri Lanka amounted to
$4.2 billion or 19.7% of its overall imports.
1. Electronic equipment: $684.2 million
2. Machinery: $554 million
3. Knitted or crocheted fabric: $307.9 million
4. Cotton: $257.1 million
5. Ships, boats: $238.1 million
6. Iron and steel: $214.5 million
7. Man-made staple fibers: $212.2 million
8. Iron or steel products: $161.4 million
9. Plastics: $115.1 million
10. Vehicles: $103.6 million
Top 10 Sri Lankan Imports from the UAE
United Arab Emirates' exports to Sri Lanka amounted to $1.6 billion or 7.3% of its overall imports.
1. Mineral fuels including oil: $1.1 billion
2. Gems, precious metals: $253.7 million
3. Copper: $44.4 million
4. Sugar: $29.7 million
5. Plastics: $25.6 million
6. Aluminum: $18.9 million
7. Iron and steel: $13.3 million
8. Fish: $12.8 million
9. Paper: $11 million
10. Fruits, nuts: $8.4 million
Top 10 Sri Lankan Imports from Singapore
Singapore's exports to Sri Lanka amounted to
$1.3 billion or 6.1% of its overall imports.
1. Mineral fuels including oil: $753.9 million
2. Gems, precious metals: $228.9 million
3. Machinery: $77.5 million
4. Electronic equipment: $44.9 million
5. Plastics: $26.7 million
6. Organic chemicals: $20.4 million
7. Other chemical goods: $14.8 million
8. Iron and steel: $14 million
9. Paper: $11.1 million
10. Tanning, dyeing extracts: $10.7 million
Top 10 Sri Lankan Imports from Japan
Japan's exports to Sri Lanka amounted to
$1 billion or 4.9% of its overall imports.
1. Vehicles: $667.4 million
2. Machinery: $117.5 million
3. Electronic equipment: $51.1 million
4. Rubber: $30.6 million
5. Medical, technical equipment: $26.7 million
6. Plastics: $18.7 million
7. Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $16.7 million
8. Iron or steel products: $13.7 million
9. Copper: $13.3 million
10. Iron and steel: $8.1 million
Top 10 Sri Lankan Imports from the US
America's exports to Sri Lanka amounted to
$813.6 million or 3.8% of its overall imports.
1. Aircraft, spacecraft: $332 million
2. Food waste, animal fodder: $76.5 million
3. Machinery: $72.3 million
4. Medical, technical equipment: $48 million
5. Electronic equipment: $43.7 million
6. Cereals: $33.4 million
7. Plastics: $25.7 million
8. Pharmaceuticals: $16.4 million
9. Paper: $15.4 million
10. Other chemical goods: $12.7 million
Top 10 Sri Lankan Imports from Malaysia
Malaysia's exports to Sri Lanka amounted to
$641.1 million or 3% of its overall imports.
1. Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $170 million
2. Mineral fuels including oil: $82.8 million
3. Wood: $59.3 million
4. Machinery: $57.3 million
5. Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $35.1 million
6. Plastics: $29.9 million
7. Electronic equipment: $29.2 million
8. Rubber: $28.4 million
9. Other chemical goods: $18.5 million
10. Vehicles: $13.8 million
Top 10 Sri Lankan Imports from Thailand
Thailand's exports to Sri Lanka amounted to
$518.3 million or 2.4% of its overall imports.
1. Fish: $49.8 million
2. Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $45.7 million
3. Machinery: $44.7 million
4. Rubber: $44.1 million
5. Sugar: $35.6 million
6. Plastics: $29.7 million
7. Vehicles: $28.3 million
8. Man-made staple fibers: $25.2 million
9. Knitted or crocheted fabric: $21.2 million
10. Cereal, milk preparations:$17.4 million
Top 10 Sri Lankan Imports from Taiwan
Taiwan's exports to Sri Lanka amounted to
$481.8 million or 2.3% of its overall imports.
1. Knitted or crocheted fabric: $154 million
2. Plastics: $52.4 million
3. Machinery: $41.6 million
4. Man-made staple fibers: $32.2 million
5. Man-made filaments: $26 million
6. Iron and steel: $25.5 million
7. Special woven/tufted fabric: $17.7 million
8. Electronic equipment: $12.3 million
9. Cotton: $11.8 million
10. Paper: $10.4 million
Top 10 Sri Lankan Imports from Hong Kong
Hong Kong's exports to Sri Lanka amounted to
$439 million or 2.1% of its overall imports.
1. Knitted or crocheted fabric: $91.8 million
2. Special woven/tufted fabric: $85.3 million
3. Machinery: $33.7 million
4. Clothing (not knit or crochet): $31.1 million
5. Plastics: $27.6 million
6. Paper: $22.1 million
7. Electronic equipment: $20.4 million
8. Cotton: $20.2 million
9. Other manufactured products: $19.3 million
10. Man-made filaments: $14.4 million
Top 10 Sri Lankan Imports from Germany
Germany's exports to Sri Lanka amounted to
$400.5 million or 1.9% of its overall imports.
1. Machinery: $90.8 million
2. Electronic equipment: $54.7 million
3. Vehicles: $52.7 million
4. Medical, technical equipment: $28.3 million
5. Other chemical goods: $18.6 million
6. Paper: $16.4 million
7. Plastics: $13.7 million
8. Pharmaceuticals: $10.4 million
9. Tanning, dyeing extracts: $7.5 million
10. Organic chemicals: $7.1 million
Fastest-Growing Sri Lankan Imports
Research Note:
Import numbers rarely match the source exporters’ stats. Reasons for import-export statistical discrepancies include re-exports, time lags, misallocations, distinct trade reporting systems, different quantity measurements and country confidentiality rules. Also, transportation and insurance costs are sometimes added to import totals.
Data source: Trade Map, International Trade Centre, www.intracen.org/marketanalysis
