Marine Forwarding

Country guide

Shipping between the US and Sri Lanka

Asia · 2 port guides

In 2025 the United States exported $368.8 million of goods to Sri Lanka and imported $3.1 billion from there. Sri Lanka ranked 114th among US export markets and 63rd among sources of US imports.

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6 ports in Sri Lanka recorded in the World Port Index
US exports, 2025
$368.8MUp 0.6% on 2024 ($366.6 million)
US imports, 2025
$3.1BUp 3.2% on 2024 ($3.0 billion)
Goods balance
$2.7BUS deficit
Export market rank
114thAmong destinations of US goods
Import source rank
63rdAmong sources of US imports

Top goods each way

The five largest Harmonized System chapters by value in 2025, with each chapter's share of the total.

US exports to Sri Lanka

Food industry residues and animal feed (chapter 23) led US exports to Sri Lanka at $126.3 million, 34% of the total. The top three chapters made up 47%.

  1. 23Food industry residues and animal feed$126.3 million34.3%
  2. 10Cereals$23.3 million6.3%
  3. 88Aircraft and spacecraft$22.0 million6.0%
  4. 30Pharmaceutical products$21.1 million5.7%
  5. 85Electrical machinery and equipment$19.7 million5.4%

US imports from Sri Lanka

Knitted apparel (chapter 61) led US imports from Sri Lanka at $1.1 billion, 35% of the total. The top three chapters made up 68%.

  1. 61Knitted apparel$1.1 billion35.5%
  2. 62Non-knitted apparel$697.0 million22.4%
  3. 40Rubber$307.8 million9.9%
  4. 71Precious stones, metals and jewelry$158.1 million5.1%
  5. 09Coffee, tea and spices$92.6 million3.0%

Trade terms

The United States has no free trade agreement in force with Sri Lanka, according to the US Trade Representative. Check the duty rate for your goods before you ship.

The International Trade Administration covers the import rules and documents Sri Lanka requires in its Country Commercial Guide.

Through Norfolk-Newport News

The Census Bureau records trade by the US port it passes through. These are its 2025 figures for Norfolk-Newport News, Virginia, for trade with Sri Lanka.

Exports through the port, 2025
$78.3M21.2% of the US total with Sri Lanka
Leading export goods
Food industry residues and animal feedHS chapter 23, $70.8 million
Imports through the port, 2025
$200.3M6.4% of the US total with Sri Lanka
Leading import goods
RubberHS chapter 40, $51.3 million

Trade through Norfolk-Newport News

Ports in Sri Lanka

2 ports in Sri Lanka have a guide here, with depths and facilities from the World Port Index. In the index, Colombo records the deepest cargo pier of them, at 18 m.

Also recorded in the World Port Index for Sri Lanka: Batticaloa Roads, Galle Harbor, Hambantota and Kankesanturai.

Sources

  • US trade figures: US Census Bureau, International Trade API, HS2 total exports and general imports for calendar 2024 and 2025, retrieved November 4, 2026.
  • Port data: National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, World Port Index (Pub 150), from NGA's UpdatedPub150.csv as captured by the Internet Archive on September 29, 2026.
  • Trade agreements: Office of the US Trade Representative, free trade agreements, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Import requirements: International Trade Administration, Country Commercial Guides, checked November 3, 2026.
  • Map: Natural Earth 1:110m land, public domain.