Sri Lanka's export sector crossed the US$9 billion mark in the first half of 2026, posting 8% year-on-year growth — and several chemical-process-linked sectors were among the standout performers. Coconut-based products, a category heavily dependent on oil extraction, desiccation, and fibre/shell processing, grew 14.59% to reach US$614.93 million, with activated carbon — a product of controlled pyrolysis and thermal activation of coconut shells — up 44.59% and emerging as one of the sector's highest-value segments. Rubber and rubber-based products, spanning latex processing, vulcanization, and moulding operations, rose 5.24% to US$492.32 million, led by pneumatic and retreaded tyre exports. Processed food and beverages posted the strongest gains among agro-processing categories, climbing 24.45% to US$347.13 million, reflecting increased throughput in food formulation, preservation, and packaging lines. Meanwhile, exports of boilers, piston engines, pumps, and vacuum pumps — core unit operations equipment relevant to process plants — reached US$171.39 million for the half-year, signaling steady demand for process and mechanical engineering hardware. Spices and essential oils, dependent on extraction and distillation processes, saw a marginal 0.10% decline to US$208.32 million, weighed down by a sharp drop in pepper shipments. Together, these trends point to continued diversification of Sri Lanka's export basket toward higher value-added, processing-intensive product streams, even as traditional sectors like tea and apparel faced headwinds.
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