The high demand for local tea and natural rubber in the international market has helped Sri Lanka achieve a 32 per cent increase in agricultural exports. The high prices, US $4.26 per kilogram of tea and US $3.02 per kilogram of rubber, resulted in an increase of 29 per cent and 31 per cent since January 2008 for the respective exports, trade sources said.
In addition, a revenue of US $208 million for minor agricultural crops also indicated that this sector is growing into an important contributor of export earnings.
Growth in exports was recorded in industries such as apparel, rubber based products, petroleum, diamond and jewelry, while food beverages and tobacco products continued to decline.