Ores and metals exports in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Ores and metals exports was 0.6% in 2024. ◆ Volatile
Ores and metals exports in Sri Lanka, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise exports.
Analysis
Sri Lanka recorded 0.6% for ores and metals exports in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 5.4% on the previous year and up 2.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals exports in Sri Lanka peaked at 6.3% in 1976 and was at its lowest, 0.2%, in 1999.
Sri Lanka ranks 168th of 194 countries on this measure, in the bottom quarter.
The series is highly variable year to year, so single readings are best treated with caution.
Ores and metals exports in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise exports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 0.3% | — |
| 1963 | 0.3% | +1.5% |
| 1964 | 0.4% | +27.0% |
| 1965 | 0.4% | -9.3% |
| 1966 | 0.5% | +26.6% |
| 1967 | 0.5% | +14.0% |
| 1968 | 0.6% | +3.9% |
| 1969 | 0.7% | +19.5% |
| 1970 | 0.7% | +3.2% |
| 1971 | 0.8% | +9.1% |
| 1972 | 1.5% | +91.7% |
| 1974 | 3.9% | +169.5% |
| 1975 | 5.3% | +34.4% |
| 1976 | 6.3% | +18.8% |
| 1977 | 5.0% | -21.0% |
| 1978 | 4.8% | -3.4% |
| 1979 | 0.9% | -80.6% |
| 1980 | 0.8% | -8.7% |
| 1981 | 0.8% | -3.2% |
| 1982 | 0.9% | +4.8% |
| 1983 | 0.8% | -6.2% |
| 1984 | 0.9% | +12.0% |
| 1985 | 1.1% | +16.9% |
| 1986 | 1.6% | +55.3% |
| 1987 | 1.1% | -30.2% |
| 1990 | 1.6% | +37.7% |
| 1991 | 0.7% | -55.9% |
| 1992 | 0.8% | +11.9% |
| 1993 | 0.8% | -3.1% |
| 1994 | 0.6% | -14.6% |
| 1999 | 0.2% | -64.5% |
| 2000 | 0.3% | +21.2% |
| 2001 | 0.3% | +8.1% |
| 2002 | 1.9% | +522.5% |
| 2003 | 2.9% | +52.9% |
| 2004 | 3.1% | +9.3% |
| 2005 | 3.6% | +15.9% |
| 2006 | 1.8% | -49.6% |
| 2007 | 2.1% | +15.2% |
| 2008 | 1.7% | -21.3% |
| 2009 | 1.4% | -14.7% |
| 2010 | 0.9% | -38.0% |
| 2011 | 0.6% | -30.1% |
| 2012 | 0.8% | +23.9% |
| 2013 | 0.6% | -18.0% |
| 2014 | 0.6% | -10.7% |
| 2015 | 0.5% | -3.2% |
| 2016 | 0.6% | +11.2% |
| 2017 | 0.8% | +30.3% |
| 2019 | 0.7% | -5.2% |
| 2020 | 0.6% | -25.1% |
| 2021 | 0.7% | +23.3% |
| 2022 | 0.7% | -0.6% |
| 2023 | 0.6% | -11.6% |
| 2024 | 0.6% | -5.4% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 0.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 3.5%, 16% of the median. (54 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 0.6% is below the median for South Asia, which is 2.6%, 22% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Biggest year-on-year movements
Years where Ores and metals exports in Sri Lanka changed far more than this series normally does. A large move can be a real event or a change in how the figure was measured — the source note below says who published it.
| Year | Change | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | +522.5% | 0.3% | 1.9% |
| 1974 | +169.5% | 1.5% | 3.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 0.5% | 0.3% | 0.7% | 8 |
| 1970s | 3.2% | 0.7% | 6.3% | 9 |
| 1980s | 1.0% | 0.8% | 1.6% | 8 |
| 1990s | 0.8% | 0.2% | 1.6% | 6 |
| 2000s | 1.9% | 0.3% | 3.6% | 10 |
| 2010s | 0.7% | 0.5% | 0.9% | 9 |
| 2020s | 0.6% | 0.6% | 0.7% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
- 165 Kiribati 0.6% compare
- 166 Belize 0.6% compare
- 167 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines 0.6% compare
- 169 Djibouti 0.5% compare
- 170 Antigua and Barbuda 0.5% compare
- 171 Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of 0.4% compare
More energy & mining data for Sri Lanka
- Fossil fuel consumption by fuel, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, annual growth rate 4.83 % change on previous year (2025)
- Coal consumption, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Coal consumption, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Primary energy use, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2025)
- Coal production, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2024)
- Coal production, per unit of GDP 0 terawatt-hours per US$ of GDP (2024)
- Primary energy use, per capita 0 terawatt-hours per person (2025)
- Fuel imports 21.5% (2024)
- Ores and metals imports 1.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals exports in Sri Lanka?
- Ores and metals exports in Sri Lanka was 0.6% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals exports recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 6.3% in 1976.
- What is the lowest ores and metals exports recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.2% in 1999.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for ores and metals exports?
- Sri Lanka ranks 168th out of 194 countries with data for 2024.
- Is ores and metals exports rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 2.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is volatile.
- Where does this Sri Lanka data come from?
- The figures come from Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division, published as part of Ores and metals exports (% of merchandise exports). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
Ores and metals comprise the commodities in SITC (Rev. 3) sections 27 (crude fertilizer, minerals nes); 28 (metalliferous ores, scrap); and 68 (non-ferrous metals). Exports of services are services provided by residents to non-residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise exports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a resident and a non-resident and that are not included in the following specific categories: goods under merchanting, non-monetary gold, and parts of travel, construction, and government goods and services n.i.e.