Sri Lanka’s energy import costs surged by over half during the first nine months of 2026 as foreign exchange outlays for petroleum products expanded significantly.
Official central bank trade data showed total fuel import expenditure reached USD 4,487.2 million between January and September, up from USD 2,961.3 million recorded during the corresponding period of 2025.
The overall escalation reflects an additional foreign exchange drain of USD 1,525.9 million over the nine-month period, despite a temporary easing of monthly import costs toward the end of the third quarter.
Fuel import spending for September alone declined by 5.8 per cent year on year to USD 415.1 million.
Parallel state energy sector figures highlight strong domestic revenue growth, with the Ceylon Petroleum Corporation (CPC) generating Rs 576.6 billion in net sales revenue over the first six months of 2026, marking a 40.4 per cent increase compared to the previous year.
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