Market research

MDF market in Sri Lanka

Release date: Mar 29, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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File format: docx, xlsx

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Earlier Report Observations

The volume of Sri Lanka's MDF market increased from 106 000 m³ in 2018 to 176 000 m³ in 2023. This expansion was underpinned by a dramatic fall in exports, which declined from 62 000 m³ to 4 000 m³, while imports varied between 18 000 m³ and 42 000 m³. Domestic production remained constant at 150 000 m³ each year.

In value terms, the market peaked at $35.2 million in 2021 before decreasing to $32.8 million in 2023. The steady production volume contrasted with shifting trade patterns that directed more output to domestic consumption.

During 2024, broader economic conditions included growth projections and inflation pressures from energy costs. Recovery in tourism and construction activity offered support for MDF demand, alongside monetary policy measures aimed at stabilizing the manufacturing environment.

Table of content

1. Disclaimer
2. Terms of use of the report
3. Product codes in the statistical classifications used in the report
4. Key Market Indicators and Trends
1. 4.1. Key Market Indicators
  1. 4.1.1. In kind
    1. 4.1.1.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.1.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.1.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.1.4. Market size, 2018-2023
  2. 4.1.2. In value
    1. 4.1.2.1. Production, 2018-2023
    2. 4.1.2.2. Imports, 2018-2024
    3. 4.1.2.3. Exports, 2018-2024
    4. 4.1.2.4. Market size, 2018-2023
2. 4.2. Market Trends and Factors
5. Production
1. 5.1. Production in Sri Lanka
  1. 5.1.1. Annual dynamics of production in Sri Lanka in kind, 2018-2023, K m³
  2. 5.1.2. Annual dynamics of production in Sri Lanka in value, 2018-2023, $ US
2. 5.2. Global production by Country, 2018-2023
  1. 5.2.1. Annual dynamics of production by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023, K m³
  2. 5.2.2. Dynamics of production structure by macroregions in kind, 2018-2023
  3. 5.2.3. Annual dynamics of production by country in kind, 2018-2023, K m³
  4. 5.2.4. Structure of production by countries in kind, 2018-2023
  5. 5.2.5. Dynamics of peoduction structure by countries in kind, 2018-2023
6. Imports
1. 6.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Imports in kind, m³
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sri Lanka in kind, 2018-2024, m³
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, m³
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sri Lanka in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/m³
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sri Lanka, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
2. 6.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Imports in kind, m³
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sri Lanka in kind, 2018-2024, m³
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, m³
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Imports in value, K $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sri Lanka in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/m³
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sri Lanka, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
7. Exports
1. 7.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Exports in kind, m³
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sri Lanka in kind, 2018-2024, m³
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, m³
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sri Lanka in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/m³
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Sri Lanka, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
2. 7.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Exports in kind, m³
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sri Lanka in kind, 2018-2024, m³
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, m³
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Exports in value, K $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sri Lanka in value, 2018-2024, K $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, K $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/m³
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Sri Lanka, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/m³
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, m³
  2. 8.1.2. In value, K $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, m³
  2. 8.2.2. In value, K $ US
9. Top buying and selling countries, 2018-2024
1. 9.1. Direct Data
  1. 9.1.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.1.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers
2. 9.2. Mirror Data
  1. 9.2.1. Import in Value by Countries-buyers
  2. 9.2.2. Export in Value by Countries-suppliers

Production MDF in Sri Lanka

In kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Top producers of MDF, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of MDF, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

In 2020, Sri Lanka produced 150.0 K m³ of MDF, showing minimal change from 2019. The largest decline and increase both occurred in 2018, each at 0.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Sri Lanka in kind, 2017-2020, K m³

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	-	-	-	-

Source: SHEV.io

In value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Sri Lanka's MDF production value declined for the second consecutive year. In 2020, output was valued at 24 828 K $ US, down 6.6% from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, production decreased by 18.4%, averaging a 6.6% annual decline. The peak value was recorded in 2018 at 34 393 K $ US. The largest decline occurred in 2019 at 22.7%, while the largest increase was in 2018 at 13.0%.

Annual dynamics of production in Sri Lanka in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	13.0%	(22.7%)	(6.6%)	(6.6%)

Source: SHEV.io

Exports MDF from Sri Lanka

Exports in kind, m³

Sri Lanka's MDF exports declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports totaled 28 024 m³, marking a sharp 31.1% decrease from 2019. From 2017 to 2020, exports fell by 65.6%, with a compound annual growth rate of -29.9%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sri Lanka in kind, 2017-2020, m³

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(23.3%)	(34.8%)	(31.1%)	(29.9%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Pakistan and India remained the primary destinations for Sri Lanka's MDF exports in volume, jointly accounting for 87.4% of total flows, while other partners individually played much smaller roles.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Sri Lanka in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Exports in value, K $ US

Sri Lanka's MDF export value declined for the third consecutive year. In 2020, exports stood at 4 639 K $ US, reflecting a sharp 35.6% reduction from the previous year. Between 2017 and 2020, exports decreased by 71.9%, with a compound annual growth rate of -34.5%.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sri Lanka in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(13.4%)	(49.6%)	(35.6%)	(34.5%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Pakistan and India clearly dominated Sri Lanka's MDF export structure in value terms, while other countries collectively made up the remainder.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's exports from Sri Lanka in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports MDF to Sri Lanka

Imports in kind, m³

The market showed an unstable trend over the period. Imports bottomed in 2018 at 18 831 m³ and peaked in 2017, with a 2.9-fold difference between these years. In 2020, MDF imports to Sri Lanka reached 35 718 m³, representing a solid 15.5% fall from 2019. The largest decline was recorded in 2018 at 65.4%, and the largest increase occurred in 2019 at 124.6%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sri Lanka in kind, 2017-2020, m³

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(65.4%)	124.6%	(15.5%)	(13.1%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Malaysia, China, and India were the leading sources for MDF imports to Sri Lanka in volume, accounting for 35.5%, 33.5%, and 21.7% of imports, respectively, and jointly making up 90.7% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Sri Lanka in kind, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Imports in value, K $ US

In 2020, Sri Lanka's MDF import value amounted to 8 031 K $ US, showing a strong 16.0% reduction from 2019. Between 2017 and 2020, imports decreased by 37.2%, averaging a 14.4% annual decline. The lowest value was recorded in 2018 at 7 775 K $ US. The largest decline occurred in 2018 at 39.2%, while the largest increase was in 2019 at 23.0%.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sri Lanka in value, 2017-2020, K $ US

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(39.2%)	23.0%	(16.0%)	(14.4%)

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the top sources for MDF imports to Sri Lanka in value terms were China, Malaysia, and India, accounting for 37.9%, 28.3%, and 24.0% of imports, respectively, and jointly representing 90.2% of total flows.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of product's imports to Sri Lanka in value, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io