Market research

Primary sugar crops market in Sri Lanka

Release date: Mar 30, 2026

Submission: 15 minutes after payment

Research period: 2017-2025

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Earlier Report Observations

Primary sugar crops production in Sri Lanka, which entirely defines the market size due to the absence of trade, increased from 644.8 thousand tonnes in 2018 to 805.6 thousand tonnes in 2023. This period was marked by significant volatility, with a sharp 30.9% surge to 855 thousand tonnes in 2020, followed by a slight contraction and another rise in 2022. By 2023, the market volume had declined by 8.1% compared to the previous year.

In 2024, state-owned sugar factories Pelwatte and Sevanagala produced around 55 thousand tonnes of sugar but operated at a loss, with substantial unsold inventories. Sugar imports surged by 31.3% in the early part of the year, contributing to market oversupply and a drop in retail prices. International sugar prices decreased due to strong crushing seasons in India and Thailand, while the Sugarcane Research Institute focused on improving productivity amid ongoing challenges like water scarcity for cultivation.

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. 4.2. 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 t
  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 t
  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 t
  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. Exports
1. 6.1. Exports (Direct Data*)
  1. 6.1.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.1.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 6.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sri Lanka in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.1.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.1.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 6.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sri Lanka in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.1.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.1.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Sri Lanka, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 6.2. Exports (Mirror Data)
  1. 6.2.1. Exports - Total information
  2. 6.2.2. Exports in kind, kg
    1. 6.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sri Lanka in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 6.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's exports in kind from Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 6.2.2.3. Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 6.2.3. Exports in value, $ US
    1. 6.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's exports from Sri Lanka in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 6.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's exports in value from Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 6.2.3.3. Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 6.2.4. Average price of product's exports, $ US/t
    1. 6.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's exports from Sri Lanka, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 6.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's exports from Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
7. Imports
1. 7.1. Imports (Direct Data*)
  1. 7.1.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.1.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 7.1.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sri Lanka in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.1.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 7.1.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.1.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 7.1.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sri Lanka in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.1.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 7.1.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.1.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.1.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sri Lanka, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.1.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
2. 7.2. Imports (Mirror Data)
  1. 7.2.1. Imports - Total information
  2. 7.2.2. Imports in kind, kg
    1. 7.2.2.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sri Lanka in kind, 2018-2024, kg
    2. 7.2.2.2. Dynamics of product's imports in kind to Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, kg
    3. 7.2.2.3. Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2024
  3. 7.2.3. Imports in value, $ US
    1. 7.2.3.1. Annual dynamics of product's imports to Sri Lanka in value, 2018-2024, $ US
    2. 7.2.3.2. Dynamics of product's imports in value to Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, $ US
    3. 7.2.3.3. Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2024
  4. 7.2.4. Average price of product's imports, $ US/t
    1. 7.2.4.1. Annual dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sri Lanka, 2018-2024, $ US/t
    2. 7.2.4.2. Dynamics of average price of product's imports to Sri Lanka by countries, 2018-2024, $ US/t
8. Trade balance
1. 8.1. Trade balance (Direct Data)
  1. 8.1.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.1.2. In value, $ US
2. 8.2. Trade balance (Mirror Data)
  1. 8.2.1. In kind, kg
  2. 8.2.2. In value, $ 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 primary sugar crops in Sri Lanka

In kind, 2017-2020, K t

Top producers of primary sugar crops, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

World map of production of primary sugar crops, 2017-2020

Source: SHEV.io

Sri Lanka's primary sugar crops production increased for the second year in a row. In 2020, the country produced 855.0 thousand tonnes, marking a 30.9% rise from the previous year. Over the 2017-2020 period, production grew by 30.6%, with an average annual growth rate of 9.3%. The lowest production was recorded in 2018 at 644.8 thousand tonnes, which saw a decline of 1.5%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	(1.5%)	1.3%	30.9%	9.3%

Source: SHEV.io

Exports primary sugar crops from Sri Lanka

Exports in kind, kg

The export market for primary sugar crops showed significant volatility during this period. Exports reached their lowest point in 2017 and peaked in 2020, with a 9.8-fold difference between these years. In 2020, Sri Lanka exported 24 725 kilograms, representing a dramatic 719.9% increase compared to the prior year. The sharpest decline occurred in 2019, when exports fell by 64.0%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	230.4%	(64.0%)	719.9%	113.7%

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, the United Arab Emirates was the dominant destination for Sri Lanka's primary sugar crops exports, accounting for 70.1% of the total volume. The remaining exports were distributed among various smaller markets.

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, $ US

Export values for primary sugar crops exhibited considerable volatility. The lowest value was recorded in 2017, while the highest occurred in 2018, with a peak-to-trough ratio of 21 times. In 2020, export revenues reached 5 395 US dollars, showing a substantial 136.1% increase over the previous year. The maximum value was 31 807 US dollars in 2018, which saw the largest increase of 2 029.3%. The most significant decline happened in 2019, with a drop of 92.8%.

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	2 029.3%	(92.8%)	136.1%	53.4%

Source: SHEV.io

Between 2017 and 2020, Maldives, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom were the key markets for Sri Lanka's primary sugar crops exports in value terms. Maldives accounted for 52.4% of export revenues, the United Arab Emirates for 16.5%, and the United Kingdom for 8.5%. Together, these three markets represented 77.3% of total export flows.

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 primary sugar crops to Sri Lanka

Imports in kind, kg

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

From 2017 to 2020, Sri Lanka's imports of primary sugar crops were entirely sourced from China, which held a 100.0% share of total import volume.

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, $ US

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

Parameter		2018	2019	2020	CAGR
1	Change from last year	n/a	n/a	n/a	-

Source: SHEV.io

During the 2017-2020 period, the import market was highly concentrated, with China accounting for 100.0% of the total import value for primary sugar crops.

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