U.S. - Sri Lanka Trade Facts
In 2019, Sri Lanka GDP was an estimated $86.6 billion (current market exchange rates); real GDP was up by an estimated 2.3%; and the population was 22 million. (Source: IMF)
Sri Lanka is currently our 71st largest goods trading partner with $3.1 billion in total (two way) goods trade during 2019. Goods exports totaled $390 million; goods imports totaled $2.7 billion. The U.S. goods trade deficit with Sri Lanka was $2.4 billion in 2019.
According to the Department of Commerce, U.S. exports of goods to Sri Lanka supported an estimated 2 thousand jobs in 2015 (latest data available).
Exports
- Sri Lanka was the United States' 111th largest goods export market in 2019.
- U.S. goods exports to Sri Lanka in 2019 were $390 million, up 5.0% ($19 million) from 2018 and up 69.9% from 2009.
- The top export categories (2-digit HS) in 2019 were: food waste, animal feed ($85 million), plastics ($34 million), cereals (wheat, meslin) ($28 million), optical and medical instruments ($23 million), and machinery ($20 million).
- U.S. total exports of agricultural products to Sri Lanka totaled $160 million in 2019. Leading domestic export categories include: soybean meal ($82 million), wheat ($28 million), dairy products ($14 million), feeds & fodders not elsewhere specified or indicated ($8 million), and tobacco ($5 million).
Imports
- Sri Lanka was the United States' 60th largest supplier of goods imports in 2019.
- U.S. goods imports from Sri Lanka totaled $2.7 billion in 2019, up 3.0% ($80 million) from 2018, and up 72.6% from 2009.
- The top import categories (2-digit HS) in 2019 were: knit apparel ($989 million), woven apparel ($824 million), rubber ($254 million), precious metal and stone (other stones, not strung) ($105 million), and machinery ($80 million).
- U.S. total imports of agricultural products from Sri Lanka totaled $184 million in 2019. Leading categories include: tea, including herbal ($51 million), spices ($28 million), tropical oils ($20 million), tree nuts ($18 million), and essential oils ($15 million).
Trade Balance
- The U.S. goods trade deficit with Sri Lanka was $2.4 billion in 2019, a 2.7% increase ($61 million) over 2018.
Investment
- U.S. foreign direct investment (FDI) in Sri Lanka (stock) was $165 million in 2019, a 3.5% decrease from 2018. There is no information on the distribution of U.S. FDI in Sri Lanka.
- Sri Lanka's FDI in the United States (stock) was $67 million in 2019, up 1.5% from 2018. There is no information on the distribution of Sri Lanka FDI in the U.S.
NOTE: No services trade data with Sri Lanka are available.
|
U.S. Goods Trade with Sri Lanka (in millions of dollars) |
|||||||
|
|
2009 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
Total |
1,822.3 |
3,029.1 |
3,253.1 |
3,143.5 |
3,178.8 |
3,040.6 |
3,138.8 |
|
Exports |
229.6 |
350.6 |
361.9 |
367.9 |
336.2 |
371.4 |
390.0 |
|
Imports |
1,592.7 |
2,678.4 |
2,891.1 |
2,775.6 |
2,842.5 |
2,669.2 |
2,748.8 |
|
Balance |
-1,363.2 |
-2,327.8 |
-2,529.2 |
-2,407.8 |
-2,506.3 |
-2,297.9 |
-2,358.8 |
|
U.S. Agricultural Trade with Sri Lanka (in millions of dollars) |
|||||||
|
|
2009 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
Total |
119.0 |
256.2 |
315.2 |
286.8 |
328.7 |
342.2 |
343.7 |
|
Exports |
71.7 |
130.4 |
139.8 |
117.6 |
133.6 |
145.9 |
159.7 |
|
Imports |
47.4 |
125.8 |
175.4 |
169.3 |
195.0 |
196.3 |
184.0 |
|
Balance |
24.3 |
4.6 |
-35.6 |
-51.7 |
-61.4 |
-50.5 |
-24.3 |
|
U.S. Manufacturing Trade with Sri Lanka (in millions of dollars) |
|||||||
|
|
2009 |
2014 |
2015 |
2016 |
2017 |
2018 |
2019 |
|
Total |
1,713.2 |
2,873.2 |
3,102.2 |
3,001.4 |
3,015.9 |
2,878.1 |
2,994.1 |
|
Exports |
171.0 |
285.7 |
301.5 |
323.0 |
280.0 |
314.8 |
334.8 |
|
Imports |
1,542.1 |
2,587.5 |
2,800.7 |
2,678.4 |
2,735.9 |
2,563.3 |
2,659.3 |
|
Balance |
-1,371.1 |
-2,301.9 |
-2,499.2 |
-2,355.5 |
-2,455.9 |
-2,248.5 |
-2,324.6 |
Last updated:October 2, 2020
