Fuel import expenditure increased by 74.7 percent to US$ 630 million in March 2026, driven by rising global fuel prices and higher import volumes linked to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, according to a recent report released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka.
In March 2025, the cost of fuel imports stood at US$ 360.7 million. The Central Bank report further noted that total fuel import expenditure for the first quarter of 2026 (January to March) amounted to US$ 1,281.5 million. This reflects an increase of 21.3 percent compared to the same period in 2025.
Fuel imports remain the largest component of the country’s import expenditure, accounting for approximately 20 percent of total imports over the past decade. In 2025 alone, Sri Lanka spent around US$ 4 billion on fuel imports. With the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, fuel import costs are expected to rise significantly this year.
