Ores and metals imports in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka: Ores and metals imports was 1.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Ores and metals imports in Sri Lanka, 1962–2024
Source: Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division. Measured in % of merchandise imports.
Analysis
In 2024, ores and metals imports in Sri Lanka stood at 1.6%.
That represents a change of up 14.5% on the previous year and up 10.1% over ten years.
Over the whole period, ores and metals imports in Sri Lanka peaked at 3.5% in 2005 and was at its lowest, 0.9%, in 1974.
Sri Lanka ranks 92nd of 196 countries on this measure, in the middle of the range.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 55 years of available data.
Ores and metals imports in Sri Lanka, year by year
| Year | % of merchandise imports | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 1.7% | — |
| 1963 | 1.7% | +2.4% |
| 1964 | 1.4% | -19.9% |
| 1965 | 2.1% | +53.7% |
| 1966 | 1.5% | -32.0% |
| 1967 | 2.3% | +55.3% |
| 1968 | 1.4% | -37.7% |
| 1969 | 1.9% | +36.2% |
| 1970 | 1.4% | -28.0% |
| 1971 | 1.8% | +31.2% |
| 1972 | 1.8% | +0.8% |
| 1974 | 0.9% | -50.9% |
| 1975 | 0.9% | +4.0% |
| 1976 | 1.5% | +60.0% |
| 1977 | 1.0% | -29.8% |
| 1978 | 1.3% | +27.0% |
| 1979 | 1.7% | +27.4% |
| 1980 | 1.6% | -7.8% |
| 1981 | 1.5% | -6.4% |
| 1982 | 1.2% | -16.6% |
| 1983 | 1.3% | +3.7% |
| 1984 | 1.2% | -5.2% |
| 1985 | 1.4% | +14.7% |
| 1986 | 1.4% | +0.6% |
| 1987 | 1.6% | +14.3% |
| 1990 | 1.5% | -5.7% |
| 1991 | 1.4% | -5.7% |
| 1992 | 1.2% | -13.0% |
| 1993 | 1.2% | +0.8% |
| 1994 | 1.1% | -11.0% |
| 1999 | 1.0% | -4.6% |
| 2000 | 1.1% | +4.0% |
| 2001 | 1.1% | +1.6% |
| 2002 | 2.0% | +80.5% |
| 2003 | 2.5% | +23.9% |
| 2004 | 3.0% | +21.8% |
| 2005 | 3.5% | +15.1% |
| 2006 | 2.9% | -15.7% |
| 2007 | 1.8% | -37.4% |
| 2008 | 1.7% | -7.5% |
| 2009 | 1.4% | -17.7% |
| 2010 | 1.8% | +28.1% |
| 2011 | 1.4% | -20.9% |
| 2012 | 1.4% | -3.4% |
| 2013 | 1.5% | +7.2% |
| 2014 | 1.4% | -2.2% |
| 2015 | 1.4% | -5.6% |
| 2016 | 1.5% | +7.5% |
| 2017 | 1.5% | +0.3% |
| 2019 | 1.4% | -2.7% |
| 2020 | 1.6% | +15.2% |
| 2021 | 1.8% | +10.7% |
| 2022 | 1.5% | -15.0% |
| 2023 | 1.4% | -10.3% |
| 2024 | 1.6% | +14.5% |
Sri Lanka compared with similar countries
- Sri Lanka's 1.6% is below the median for upper middle income countries, which is 1.6%, 99% of the median. (56 countries reporting)
- Sri Lanka's 1.6% is below the median for South Asia, which is 2.6%, 61% of the median. (6 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1960s | 1.8% | 1.4% | 2.3% | 8 |
| 1970s | 1.4% | 0.9% | 1.8% | 9 |
| 1980s | 1.4% | 1.2% | 1.6% | 8 |
| 1990s | 1.2% | 1.0% | 1.5% | 6 |
| 2000s | 2.1% | 1.1% | 3.5% | 10 |
| 2010s | 1.5% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 9 |
| 2020s | 1.6% | 1.4% | 1.8% | 5 |
Countries ranked near Sri Lanka
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 exports 0.6% (2024)
Frequently asked questions
- What is ores and metals imports in Sri Lanka?
- Ores and metals imports in Sri Lanka was 1.6% in 2024, according to Comtrade database, United Nations (UN), publisher: UN Statistics Division.
- What is the highest ores and metals imports recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The highest recorded value was 3.5% in 2005.
- What is the lowest ores and metals imports recorded in Sri Lanka?
- The lowest recorded value was 0.9% in 1974.
- How does Sri Lanka rank for ores and metals imports?
- Sri Lanka ranks 92nd out of 196 countries with data for 2024.
- Is ores and metals imports rising or falling in Sri Lanka?
- Over the last ten years it is up 10.1%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- 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 imports (% of merchandise imports). 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). Imports of services are services provided by non-residents to residents. This indicator is expressed as a percentage of merchandise imports which is comprised of goods whose economic ownership is changed between a non-resident and a 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.