⚠️ NCE Warns Bottlenecks May Stall Sri Lanka’s US$ 36 Bn Export Goal

The National Chamber of Exporters (NCE) warns that unresolved regulatory and labor issues threaten the National Export Development Plan (NEDP) 2026–2030 target of US$ 36 Bn (US$ 28 Bn merchandise, US$ 8+ Bn services), which requires a 10–12% annual growth rate. 📈 Overall Performance • Total Q1 2026 exports hit US$ 4.31 Bn, up 1.59% YoY. Sector Breakdowns & Bottlenecks • Coconut Industry: January–April 2026 earnings surged 21.38% to US$ 406.28 Mn. However, value-added exporters face acute raw material shortages and rigid import curbs on coir bristle fibre. • Logistics & Freight Forwarding: Crashed 23.68% during January–April 2026 due to custom delays, lack of 24/7 synchronized terminal operations, and manual red tape. • Boat-Building: Grew 8.31% (Jan–Apr 2026) but faces severe infrastructure gaps and an 80% attrition rate in skilled trades due to overseas migration. • Mineral Sector: April 2026 exports rose 6.79% YoY. Growth is severely hampered by short mining license durations and an unfavorable royalty structure calculated on final export value rather than mine gate value. • Forestry & Floriculture: Contributes just 0.1% (US$ 5.3 Mn) to merchandise exports in 2026 so far; choked by paper-based single-consignment permit delays. • Fresh & Processed Agriculture: Local glass bottle shortages force imports, but rigid forex conversion windows restrict bulk-purchasing power. Key Systematic Hurdles • Labor: Severe skilled labor migration has prompted calls for a foreign worker recruitment framework. • Trade Barriers: India's BIS Quality Control Orders are creating heavy non-tariff barriers, while domestic trademark registrations take years. _Note: Figures based on provisional NCE and industry data._