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Sri Lanka

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