In brief
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka says the country spent $4.49 billion on fuel imports from January to September 2026, a 51.5% increase over the same period in 2025. September’s outlay dipped slightly, but the five‑month decline is outweighed by a cumulative bill still far above last year’s level. The rise is linked to higher domestic fuel prices and Middle East conflict‑driven supply disruptions, including restrictions on shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.
Sri Lanka’s fuel import bill for the first nine months of 2026 rose 51.5% to $4.49 billion, Central Bank data released on Oct. 30 show, compared with $2.96 billion for the same period in 2025.
The report, issued in the bank’s External Sector Performance bulletin, notes that fuel import spending fell slightly in September, when Sri Lanka paid $415.1 million, down 5.8% from September 2025’s $440.7 million. September 2026 marked the fifth straight month of declining monthly outlays, yet the cumulative bill remains well above the previous year’s level.
According to Xinhua, the sharp rise is caused by higher domestic fuel prices triggered by escalation in the Middle East, coupled with disruptions to global energy supply chains. The report cites restrictions on petroleum shipments flowing through the Strait of Hormuz as a driver of increasing crude oil and petroleum product prices, as well as higher freight and insurance costs.
While the Central Bank’s figures show a downward monthly trend, the overall expenditure remains significantly higher than the 2025 level, pointing to persistent pressure on the country’s external accounts. No other outlets reported the data at this time.
