Once called Ceylon, the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka imported US$15.6 billion worth of products from around the globe during 2020. That dollar amount reflects a -19.9% reduction from $19.5 billion in 2019.

This article presents a quick reference snapshot of Sri Lanka’s main imported products categorized by dollar amount and major trading partners.

Located in the Indian Ocean, Sri Lanka is an island nation in South Asia. Sri Lanka shares maritime boundaries with India and the Maldives.

Data presented below is organized by overall metrics then drill down to Sri Lanka’s most valuable imports during 2020 for each of Sri Lanka’s top 10 supplier countries. Those leading trading partners accounted for over two-thirds (69%) of Sri Lanka’s import purchases.

Product categories shown summarize calculations at the two-digit Harmonized System code level. Two-digit codes enable higher-level insights and trends for Sri Lankan imports and each of the top supplier countries.

Sri Lanka’s Main Imports from China

In 2020, China’s exports to Sri Lanka amounted to $3.6 billion or 22.9% of overall Sri Lankan imports.

That dollar amount represents a -11.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 77.6% of Sri Lanka’s imports from mainland China.

Electronic equipment: $691.2 million
Machinery: $492.6 million
Knitted or crocheted fabric: $268 million
Man-made staple fibers: $185.6 million
Iron and steel: $171.4 million
Cotton: $159 million
Iron or steel products: $135.3 million
Plastics: $112.5 million
Fertilizers: $107.8 million
Man-made filaments: $102.6 million
Organic chemicals: $81.7 million
Special woven/tufted fabric: $81.7 million
Railway, tram equipment: $67.1 million
Vehicles: $63.7 million
Paper: $57.8 million

Fastest increases from 2019-2020 were for Sri Lankan imports from China under the railway or tram equipment product category via a 47.4% gain in revenue, fertilizers (up 27.9%) and organic chemicals (up 13.6%).

Posting the severest declines among Sri Lanka’s top 15 imported products were cotton (down -32.5%), items made from iron or steel (down -29.4%), special woven or tufted fabric (down -28.4%), man-made staple fibers (down -25.2%), paper (down -21.4%) and knitted or crocheted fabric (down -20.3%).

Sri Lanka’s Main Imports from India

In 2020, India’s exports to Sri Lanka amounted to $3 billion or 19.3% of overall Sri Lankan imports.

That dollar amount represents a -21.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 76.5% of Sri Lanka’s imports from India.

Pharmaceuticals: $250.6 million
Sugar: $223.7 million
Cotton: $222.4 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $220.9 million
Iron and steel: $212.4 million
Knitted or crocheted fabric: $189.9 million
Machinery: $174.6 million
Vehicles: $145.5 million
Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $115.7 million
Coffee, tea, spices: $112.9 million
Electronic equipment: $111.6 million
Paper: $106.6 million
Plastics: $88.1 million
Vegetables: $68.1 million
Other chemical goods: $58.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019-2020 were for Sri Lankan imports from India under the sugar product category via a 54.3% gain in revenue and pharmaceuticals (up 23.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Sri Lanka’s top 15 imported products were vehicles (down -61.3%), mineral fuels including oil (down -50.6%), salt, sulphur, stone and cement (down -45%), iron and steel as materials (down -22%), paper (down -15.3%) and cotton (down -13.7%).

Sri Lanka’s Main Imports from the UAE

In 2020, the United Arab Emirates’ exports to Sri Lanka amounted to $889 million or 5.7% of overall Sri Lankan imports.

That dollar amount represents a -42.3% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 96.9% of Sri Lanka’s imports from the UAE.

Mineral fuels including oil: $596.9 million
Copper: $44 million
Fish: $42.8 million
Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $41.3 million
Plastics: $23.7 million
Gems, precious metals: $22.4 million
Sugar: $21.6 million
Fertilizers: $14.2 million
Iron and steel: $11.9 million
Aluminum: $9.2 million
Machinery: $8 million
Furniture, lighting, signs: $7.5 million
Fruits, nuts: $7.4 million
Paper: $5.2 million
Vegetables: $5.1 million

Fastest increases from 2019-2020 were for Sri Lankan imports from the United Arab Emirates under the sugar product category via a 1,420% gain in revenue, gems and precious metals (up 286%), vegetables (up 189.8%) and fish (up 60.3%).

Posting the severest declines among Sri Lanka’s top 15 imported products were fertilizers (down -62.3%), salt, sulphur, stone and cement (down -57%), mineral fuels including oil (down -49.6%), aluminum (down -41.8%), paper (down -39.4%) and plastics as a material (down -21.4%).

Sri Lanka’s Main Imports from Malaysia

In 2020, Malaysia’s exports to Sri Lanka amounted to $634.5 million or 4.1% of overall Sri Lankan imports.

That dollar amount represents a -29% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 90.7% of Sri Lanka’s imports from Malaysia.

Mineral fuels including oil: $221.2 million
Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $125.1 million
Machinery: $41.6 million
Wood: $32 million
Other chemical goods: $29.8 million
Rubber: $24.7 million
Electronic equipment: $23 million
Plastics: $21.1 million
Organic chemicals: $12.4 million
Soaps, lubricants, candles: $10.5 million
Food waste, animal fodder: $9.6 million
Iron and steel: $7.6 million
Iron or steel products: $6.4 million
Aluminum: $5.3 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $5.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019-2020 were for Sri Lankan imports from Malaysia under the animal or vegetable fats and oils product category via a 81.4% gain in revenue, iron and steel as materials (up 68.5%), food waste or animal fodder (up 52%), soaps, lubricants and candles (up 37.1%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 35.9%) and organic chemicals (up 12.9%).

Posting the severest declines among Sri Lanka’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -53.6%), items made from iron or steel (down -38.1%), aluminum (down -29.4%), machinery (down -27.1%), wood (down -19%) and plastics as a material (down -15.3%).

Sri Lanka’s Main Imports from Singapore

In 2020, Singapore’s exports to Sri Lanka amounted to $617.3 million or 4% of overall Sri Lankan imports.

That dollar amount represents a -19.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 94.5% of Sri Lanka’s imports from Singapore.

Mineral fuels including oil: $391.1 million
Machinery: $41.5 million
Electronic equipment: $26.5 million
Plastics: $19.8 million
Other chemical goods: $19.5 million
Organic chemicals: $16.6 million
Perfumes, cosmetics: $12.5 million
Paper: $12.1 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $11.7 million
Iron and steel: $9.1 million
Tanning, dyeing extracts: $5.6 million
Medical, technical equipment: $5.4 million
Iron or steel products: $4.2 million
Cocoa, cocoa preparations: $4 million
Man-made filaments: $3.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019-2020 were for Sri Lankan imports from Singapore under the items made from iron and steel category via an 83.6% gain in revenue, perfumes and cosmetics (up 30.6%), organic chemicals (up 25%), cocoa including cocoa preparations (up 24.6%), miscellaneous chemical goods (up 16%) and cereal or milk preparations (up 13%).

Posting the severest declines among Sri Lanka’s top 15 imported products were tanning or dyeing extracts (down -37.8%), electronic equipment (down -32.1%), man-made filaments (down -30.6%), items made from iron or steel (down -24%), machinery (down -23.8%) and mineral fuels including oil (down -23.7%).

Sri Lanka’s Main Imports from Japan

In 2020, Japan’s exports to Sri Lanka amounted to $529.2 million or 3.4% of overall Sri Lankan imports.

That dollar amount represents a -39.5% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 92.5% of Sri Lanka’s imports from Japan.

Vehicles: $273 million
Machinery: $75.7 million
Medical, technical equipment: $26.9 million
Rubber: $21.9 million
Plastics: $19.2 million
Electronic equipment: $18.4 million
Man-made filaments: $7.6 million
Aluminum: $7.4 million
Other chemical goods: $7.3 million
Iron or steel products: $7.3 million
Coated textile fabric: $5.9 million
Iron and steel: $5.7 million
Organic chemicals: $4.8 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $4.4 million
Photo/cinematographic goods: $4.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019-2020 were for Sri Lankan imports from Japan under the coated textile fabric product category via a 414.4% gain in revenue, aluminum (up 197%), iron and steel as materials (up 76.9%), organic chemicals (up 18.9%) and photographic or cinematographic goods (up 13.4%).

Posting the severest declines among Sri Lanka’s top 15 imported products were items made from iron or steel (down -53%), vehicles (down -52.1%), electronic equipment (down -37.4%), medical or technical equipment (down -26.7%), man-made filaments (down -20%) and rubber (down -13.2%).

Sri Lanka’s Main Imports from the US

In 2020, the United States’ exports to Sri Lanka amounted to $497 million or 3.2% of overall Sri Lankan imports.

That dollar amount represents a -9.7% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 83.6% of Sri Lanka’s imports from the United States.

Food waste, animal fodder: $92.5 million
Medical, technical equipment: $46 million
Plastics: $43.8 million
Cereals: $35.9 million
Machinery: $34.8 million
Electronic equipment: $31.1 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $23.9 million
Other chemical goods: $21.6 million
Pharmaceuticals: $20.8 million
Man-made filaments: $17.3 million
Vehicles: $11.7 million
Paper: $11.4 million
Felt, yarn, twine, cordage: $9.3 million
Man-made staple fibers: $7.9 million
Dairy, eggs, honey: $7.7 million

Fastest increases from 2019-2020 were for Sri Lankan imports from the United States under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via a 42.5% gain in revenue, man-made staple fibers (up 39.6%), mineral fuels including oil (up 25.9%) and vehicles (up 14.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Sri Lanka’s top 15 imported products were dairy, eggs and honey (down -32.9%), machinery (down -30.9%), paper (down -29.8%), electronic equipment (down -29%), felt, yarn, twine and cordage (down -28.7%) and medical or technical equipment (down -15.4%).

Sri Lanka’s Main Imports from Thailand

In 2020, Thailand’s exports to Sri Lanka amounted to $366.8 million or 2.4% of overall Sri Lankan imports.

That dollar amount represents a -16.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 75.3% of Sri Lanka’s imports from Thailand.

Rubber: $32.4 million
Machinery: $29.5 million
Vehicles: $29.4 million
Iron or steel products: $27.9 million
Fish: $22.7 million
Cereal, milk preparations: $20 million
Plastics: $18.7 million
Man-made staple fibers: $16.4 million
Knitted or crocheted fabric: $15 million
Sugar: $15 million
Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $13.3 million
Electronic equipment: $12.2 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $9.5 million
Gems, precious metals: $7.2 million
Cereals: $7 million

Fastest increases from 2019-2020 were for Sri Lankan imports from Thailand under the gems and precious metals product category via a 78.4% gain in revenue, cereal or milk preparations (up 72.9%), items made from iron or steel (up 66.1%) and cereals (up 41.5%).

Posting the severest declines among Sri Lanka’s top 15 imported products were sugar (down -64.7%), man-made staple fibers (down -34.4%), salt, sulphur, stone and cement (down -34.2%), knitted or crocheted fabric (down -33.2%), fish (down -30.5%) and vehicles (down -25.8%).

Sri Lanka’s Main Imports from Indonesia

In 2020, Indonesia’s exports to Sri Lanka amounted to $330.3 million or 2.1% of overall Sri Lankan imports.

That dollar amount represents a -22.9% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 81.6% of Sri Lanka’s imports from Indonesia.

Animal/vegetable fats and oils: $58.2 million
Paper: $28.8 million
Tobacco: $27.5 million
Rubber: $27.4 million
Other chemical goods: $21.4 million
Fertilizers: $21.1 million
Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $17.7 million
Pharmaceuticals: $13.2 million
Plastics: $9.9 million
Fish: $9.2 million
Vehicles: $8.6 million
Electronic equipment: $8.3 million
Machinery: $6.6 million
Mineral fuels including oil: $5.9 million
Man-made staple fibers: $5.9 million

Fastest increases from 2019-2020 were for Sri Lankan imports from Indonesia under the miscellaneous chemical goods product category via a 69.4% gain in revenue, fish (up 41.9%), animal or vegetable fats and oils (up 30%) and pharmaceuticals (up 10.7%).

Posting the severest declines among Sri Lanka’s top 15 imported products were mineral fuels including oil (down -89.9%), salt, sulphur, stone and cement (down -63%), electronic equipment (down -39.6%), vehicles (down -33.6%), paper (down -25.4%) and man-made staple fibers (down -22.3%).

Sri Lanka’s Main Imports from Pakistan

In 2020, Pakistan’s exports to Sri Lanka amounted to $324.7 million or 2.1% of overall Sri Lankan imports.

That dollar amount represents a -12.2% drop compared to 2019.

By value, the 15 major product categories listed below represent 94.1% of Sri Lanka’s imports from Pakistan.

Salt, sulphur, stone, cement: $97.4 million
Cotton: $57.6 million
Vegetables: $50.1 million
Pharmaceuticals: $28.1 million
Knitted or crocheted fabric: $16.8 million
Other textiles, worn clothing: $11.5 million
Man-made staple fibers: $8.6 million
Cereals: $8.4 million
Plastics: $7.8 million
Iron or steel products: $5.3 million
Knit or crochet clothing: $3.9 million
Glass: $2.9 million
Fish: $2.6 million
Fruits, nuts: $2.3 million
Clothing (not knit or crochet): $2.2 million

Fastest increases from 2019-2020 were for Sri Lankan imports from Pakistan under the salt, sulphur, stone and cement product category via a 37.1% gain in revenue, vegetables (up 35.6%), items made from iron or steel (up 29.4%), plastics as a material (up 18.9%) and pharmaceuticals (up 14.8%).

Posting the severest declines among Sri Lanka’s top 15 imported products were cereals (down -78.7%), unknitted and non-crocheted clothing (down -54%), cotton (down -35.6%), miscellaneous textiles including worn clothing (down -30.5%), man-made staple fibers (down -25.1%) and knitted or crocheted clothing (down -22.6%).

References

Independent insights and analysis presented in this article are based on researched facts and statistics sourced from the following educational sources.

International Trade Centre, Trade Map.

Richest Country Reports, Top 50 Countries by GDP per Capita.

Wikipedia, Sri Lanka, Borders of Sri Lanka.

World’s Top Exports, Import News.

Sri Lanka’s Main Imports by Top Supplier Countries