The National Chamber of Exporters of Sri Lanka (NCE) congratulates the country's export community on achieving a significant milestone, with Sri Lanka's export earnings surpassing USD 10 billion during the first six months of 2026.

According to the Central Bank's latest External Sector Performance report, export earnings increased by 3.3% year-on-year to USD 10.4 billion during the first half of 2026. Merchandise exports rose by 6.3% to USD 6.9 billion despite a decline in services exports, while total export revenue in June reached USD 1,660 million.

The Chamber commends exporters in all sectors for their resilience and commitment in maintaining Sri Lanka's presence in international markets despite ongoing global economic and trade uncertainties. This achievement is also a testament to the contribution of government institutions, policymakers, trade support organisations, logistics providers, financial institutions and every stakeholder who has worked to build up the country's export sector.

As the national chamber representing Sri Lankan exporters, the NCE has always closely engaged with the industry through policy advocacy, regular discussions with government authorities, exporter training programmes, regional outreach initiatives and knowledge-sharing forums. The Chamber has also continued to recognise excellence through the annual NCE Export Awards, which celebrate outstanding export performance while encouraging higher standards throughout the sector.

The contribution made by the NCE to Sri Lanka's export sector has been substantial. In fact, responses from around 275 members to the Chamber's 2024/2025 member survey show a combined annual export turnover of US$ 3.07 billion. This highlights the pivotal role played by the NCE in generating export earnings and creating employment opportunities across the country. NCE members export to markets in every major region of the world, with the United States, the United Kingdom, India, Australia, the Maldives, and Germany among the leading destinations, while many exporters also serve emerging markets in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, and Latin America.

Many exporters have great confidence in the future, with plans to invest further in Sri Lanka and expand into new international markets. At the same time, the NCE has identified several areas that require further attention, including access to finance, export credit, policy consistency, logistics, labor availability, and the digitalization of trade processes. Exporters also pursue improved market intelligence, assistance in identifying overseas buyers, support for participation in international exhibitions, business matchmaking, exporter training programs, closer engagement with Sri Lankan missions overseas, and advocacy on trade agreements and export-related policies. These requirements guide the Chamber's advocacy and engagement with policymakers on issues that directly affect exporters.

Recognising that access to skilled labour is one of the key concerns raised by exporters, the Chamber has expanded training programmes to help develop a skilled workforce for export industries. These initiatives are expected to support businesses in a range of sectors while addressing emerging industry requirements.

The Chamber also recognizes the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sector’s scope to become an even larger contributor to Sri Lanka's export earnings. With global demand for digital services growing, the ICT sector provides further opportunities to increase the country's export basket and generate higher value exports.

The NCE also extends its sincere appreciation to the Sri Lankan community living overseas, as their sustained confidence in Sri Lankan products and services, and their support as buyers in international markets, make an important contribution to the country's export sector. With this in mind, the Chamber is working towards establishing a platform that will connect Sri Lankans living overseas with aspiring exporters and existing export businesses in Sri Lanka. The initiative is intended to develop new business connections, encourage more market access and make it easier for overseas Sri Lankans to engage with local exporters through the NCE.

While welcoming the encouraging performance recorded during the first half of the year, the Chamber believes this momentum should be sustained through continued collaboration between the public and private sectors. The NCE stays committed to supporting Sri Lankan exporters through practical programmes, advocacy and industry engagement as Sri Lanka targets achieving higher export earnings in the years ahead.