Sri Lankan exports to Saudi Arabia record 19% increase in 2025
Daily FT: Sri Lankan exports to Saudi Arabia recorded a 19% increase from January to September 2025, compared to the corresponding period in 2024.
Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ameer Ajwad, stated that this double-digit growth represents an outstanding accomplishment in 2025, achieved through sustained and well-coordinated efforts undertaken by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh in close collaboration with the Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment and Tourism Ministry, the Department of Commerce, the Sri Lanka Export Development Board, the Sri Lanka Tea Board, and other relevant institutions.
The Ambassador further noted that the Embassy adopted a concerted strategy aimed at enhancing the visibility of Sri Lankan products, including active participation in major international trade exhibitions held across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Ambassador Ajwad also stated that total bilateral trade between Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia expanded by 9%, reflecting the growing complementarities and strengthening economic partnership between the two countries.
Trade volumes have continued to increase steadily, with Saudi Arabia remaining a key export market for Sri Lankan products such as tea, spices, fruits, vegetables, coconut-based products, processed foods including frozen seafood, construction materials, and other consumer goods. Concurrently, Sri Lanka continues to import essential commodities and energy supplies from the Kingdom, underscoring a balanced and mutually beneficial trade relationship.
In 2025 alone, ten Sri Lankan business delegations visited Saudi Arabia, comprising companies specialising in food and beverages, agricultural products, construction materials, furniture, tourism, and manpower. In December 2025, the Embassy facilitated the launch of Sri Lankan products by Ceylon Biscuits Ltd., (CBL) in collaboration with Amalcom Company, an initiative expected to further enhance Sri Lankan exports to the Saudi market.
Such coordinated trade-promotion initiatives have significantly contributed to expanding market access, strengthening commercial ties, and enhancing the visibility of Sri Lankan products in the rapidly growing Saudi market.
The year 2025 also marked a historic milestone with the establishment of the first-ever Saudi–Sri Lanka Joint Business Council, facilitated by the Embassy of Sri Lanka in Riyadh. The Council was jointly formed between the Federation of Saudi Chambers (FSC) and the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Sri Lanka (FCCISL) and was officially launched during the visit of Minister Vijitha Herath, to Riyadh in November 2025. The Joint Business Council is expected to be a game-changer, serving as a vital platform for structured dialogue, trade facilitation, investment promotion, and enhanced private-sector collaboration between the two countries.
In addition, to promote Sri Lanka tourism in Saudi Arabia, the Embassy facilitated “Twin Tourism Roadshows” in Riyadh and Dammam in April 2025, after a six-year hiatus, with the participation of the top twenty Sri Lankan Destination Management Companies (DMCs), in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB).
The Embassy also facilitated “Twin Sri Lankan Manpower Roadshows” in Riyadh and Dammam in May 2025, following an eight-year hiatus, with the participation of the top fifteen (15) Sri Lankan manpower-supplying agencies, in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Bureau of Foreign Employment (SLBFE). Additionally, the Embassy facilitated the participation of 26 SLBFE-licensed foreign employment agencies at Saudi Arabia’s largest HRLS Manpower Expo, held in Riyadh in November 2025. The Sri Lanka Pavilion at the Expo was inaugurated by the visiting Minister Vijitha Herath. Sri Lankan manpower agencies actively engaged in promotional and networking activities aimed at expanding employment opportunities for Sri Lankan workers in the Kingdom.
OSL take:
Sri Lankan authorities are focused on further expanding the country’s export industry, which is one of the key revenue generators to the country, through product diversification, strong trade ties and market expansion. Sri Lanka has been engaged in multiple activities to further expand local exports to foreign markets while also gaining access to new markets through participation in many foreign expos, further strengthening as well as expanding trade ties with foreign countries and by encouraging local exporters to add more value to their products while diversifying the existing export product portfolios to meet the growing demand in foreign markets. There has been a steady growth in Sri Lanka’s export industry as a result, which could be witnessed even by the increase in the country’s exports to Saudi Arabia. These developments indicate the increasing business potential in Sri Lanka’s export industry and related sectors as well as the expanding business/investment opportunities. Given the steady growth and the growth potential in Sri Lanka’s export industry, foreign businesses/investors could confidently explore the expanding business/investment opportunities in the industry and related sectors.
| Article Code : | VBS/AT/20260113/Z_4 |