The twenty imports Sri Lanka is best placed to replace.

1. 1

   Cement clinkers (whether or not coloured)HS 252310

   Comes fromPakistan 54%, 10 source countries

   Nearest export strengthQuartz: other than natural sands (exports USD 5m)

   Exports of this linenone recorded; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 51m

   Countries that export it well36

   Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 102m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 4 per cent (3); Pakistan supplies 54 per cent (1).

   USD 102mup 27% on 2022
2. 2

   Cotton yarn: (not sewing thread), single, of combed fibres, 85% or more by weight of cotton, less than 192.31 but not...HS 520524

   Comes fromIndia 75%, 8 source countries

   Nearest export strengthFabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, of yarns... (exports USD 3m)

   Exports of this lineUSD 251k; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 50m

   Countries that export it well15

   Score 7 of 8: import bill USD 33m, top 24 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 8 per cent (3); India supplies 75 per cent (2).

   USD 33mdown 32% on 2022
3. 3

   Sugars: sucrose, chemically pure, in solid form, not containing added flavouring or colouring matterHS 170199

   Comes fromIndia 59%, 23 source countries

   Nearest export strengthSugars: n.e.c. in heading no. 1702, including invert sugar and other... (exports USD 3m)

   Exports of this lineUSD 481k

   Countries that export it well44

   Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 364m, top 0 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 14 per cent (2); India supplies 59 per cent (1).

   USD 364mup 179% on 2022
4. 4

   TankersHS 890120

   Comes fromIndia 100%, 1 source country

   Nearest export strengthVessels: n.e.c. in heading no. 8901, for the transport of goods and... (exports USD 51m)

   Exports of this linenone recorded

   Countries that export it well20

   Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 128m, top 4 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 49 per cent (1); India supplies 100 per cent (2).

   USD 128mup 367% on 2022
5. 5

   Fabrics, woven: of synthetic staple fibres, containing 85% or more by weight of polyester staple fibres, other than...HS 551219

   Comes fromChina 76%, 40 source countries

   Nearest export strengthSewing thread: of synthetic staple fibres, whether or not put up for... (exports USD 4m)

   Exports of this lineUSD 695k

   Countries that export it well13

   Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 99m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 30 per cent (1); China supplies 76 per cent (2).

   USD 99mfrom USD 8m in 2022
6. 6

   Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys: dolls' carriages: dolls: other toys: reduced-size (scale)...HS 950300

   Comes fromChina 99%, 45 source countries

   Nearest export strengthWater sport equipment: water-skis, surf-boards and other water-sport... (exports USD 39m)

   Exports of this lineUSD 31m

   Countries that export it well12

   Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 76m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 38 per cent (1); China supplies 99 per cent (2).

   USD 76mdown 4% on 2022
7. 7

   Iron or non-alloy steel: flat-rolled, width 600mm or more, painted, varnished or coated with plasticsHS 721070

   Comes fromChina 69%, 12 source countries

   Nearest export strengthIron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, forged, hot-rolled... (exports USD 1m)

   Exports of this lineUSD 13k

   Countries that export it well25

   Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 68m, top 9 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 43 per cent (1); China supplies 69 per cent (2).

   USD 68mup 42% on 2022
8. 8

   Iron or steel: structures and parts thereof, n.e.c. in heading 7308HS 730890

   Comes fromChina 77%, 40 source countries

   Nearest export strengthIron or steel: nails, tacks, drawing pins, corrugated nails, staples... (exports USD 41m)

   Exports of this lineUSD 5m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 11m

   Countries that export it well33

   Score 6 of 8: import bill USD 39m, top 19 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 24 per cent (2); China supplies 77 per cent (2).

   USD 39mup 48% on 2022
9. 9

   Medicaments: consisting of mixed or unmixed products n.e.c. in heading no. 3004, for therapeutic or prophylactic uses...HS 300490

   Comes fromIndia 57%, 63 source countries

   Nearest export strengthFood preparations: n.e.c. in item no. 2106.10

   Exports of this lineUSD 7m; 1 more line in the heading, USD 23m

   Countries that export it well32

   Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 349m, top 1 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 49 per cent (1); India supplies 57 per cent (1).

   USD 349mup 76% on 2022
10. 10

    Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: nitrogenous, urea, whether or not in aqueous solutionHS 310210

    Comes fromQatar 28%, 20 source countries

    Nearest export strengthFertilizers, animal or vegetable: whether or not mixed together or... (exports USD 5m)

    Exports of this lineUSD 8k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 14m

    Countries that export it well27

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 106m, top 5 per cent of candidates (3); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 23 per cent (2).

    USD 106mdown 27% on 2022
11. 11

    Copper: wire, of refined copper, of which the maximum cross-sectional dimension exceeds 6mmHS 740811

    Comes fromUnited Arab Emirates 77%, 6 source countries

    Nearest export strengthCopper: copper-zinc base alloys (brass) unwrought (exports USD 12m)

    Exports of this lineUSD 2k

    Countries that export it well25

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 63m, top 11 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 41 per cent (1); United Arab Emirates supplies 77 per cent (2).

    USD 63mup 6% on 2022
12. 12

    Rubber: technically specified natural rubber (TSNR), in primary forms or in plates, sheets or strip (excluding latex...HS 400122

    Comes fromThailand 36%, 10 source countries

    Nearest export strengthRubber: tyres n.e.c. in heading no. 4012 (exports USD 451m)

    Exports of this lineUSD 2m

    Countries that export it well15

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 57m, top 12 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 7 per cent (3).

    USD 57mdown 1% on 2022
13. 13

    Reception apparatus for television, whether or not incorporating radio-broadcast receivers or sound or video recording...HS 852872

    Comes fromChina 69%, 30 source countries

    Nearest export strengthInsulated electric conductors: ignition wiring sets and other wiring... (exports USD 36m)

    Exports of this lineUSD 143k

    Countries that export it well17

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 52m, top 13 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 31 per cent (1); China supplies 69 per cent (2).

    USD 52mup 380% on 2022
14. 14

    Iron or non-alloy steel: semi-finished products of iron or non-alloy steel, containing by weight less than 0.25% of...HS 720719

    Comes fromSouth Africa 92%, 5 source countries

    Nearest export strengthIron or non-alloy steel: bars and rods, forged, hot-rolled... (exports USD 1m)

    Exports of this linenone recorded; 1 more line in the heading, USD 150m

    Countries that export it well20

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 28m, top 29 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 20 per cent (2); South Africa supplies 92 per cent (2).

    USD 28mup 203% on 2022
15. 15

    Fabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, dyed, plain weave, weighing more than 100g/m2 but not more...HS 520832

    Comes fromIndia 90%, 26 source countries

    Nearest export strengthFabrics, woven: containing 85% or more by weight of cotton, of yarns... (exports USD 3m)

    Exports of this lineUSD 23k; 4 more lines in the heading, USD 60m

    Countries that export it well15

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 26m, top 31 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 20 per cent (2); India supplies 90 per cent (2).

    USD 26mdown 23% on 2022
16. 16

    Tugs and pusher craftHS 890400

    Comes fromIndia 83%, 5 source countries

    Nearest export strengthVessels: n.e.c. in heading no. 8901, for the transport of goods and... (exports USD 51m)

    Exports of this lineUSD 24k

    Countries that export it well22

    Score 5 of 8: import bill USD 23m, top 38 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 18 per cent (2); India supplies 83 per cent (2).

    USD 23mdown 73% on 2022
17. 17

    Yarn, synthetic: filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex), textured, of polyesters, not for retail sale, not...HS 540233

    Comes fromChina 60%, 25 source countries

    Nearest export strengthYarn, synthetic: filament, monofilament (less than 67 decitex)... (exports USD 7m)

    Exports of this lineUSD 2m; 2 more lines in the heading, USD 50m

    Countries that export it well13

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 38m, top 20 per cent of candidates (2); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 35 per cent (1); China supplies 60 per cent (1).

    USD 38mup 44% on 2022
18. 18

    Ceramic tiles: flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles other than those of subheadings 6907.30 and 6907.40, of a water...HS 690721

    Comes fromIndia 71%, 14 source countries

    Nearest export strengthTableware and kitchenware: of porcelain or china (exports USD 20m)

    Exports of this lineUSD 2m

    Countries that export it well16

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 31m, top 26 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 29 per cent (1); India supplies 71 per cent (2).

    USD 31mup 328% on 2022
19. 19

    Fabrics, woven: of polyester staple fibres n.e.c. in chapter 55, mixed mainly or solely with viscose rayon staple fibresHS 551511

    Comes fromIndia 64%, 22 source countries

    Nearest export strengthSewing thread: of synthetic staple fibres, whether or not put up for... (exports USD 4m)

    Exports of this lineUSD 994k

    Countries that export it well8

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 29m, top 28 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 38 per cent (1); India supplies 64 per cent (2).

    USD 29mdown 14% on 2022
20. 20

    Fertilizers, mineral or chemical: potassic, n.e.c. in heading no. 3104HS 310490

    Comes fromUzbekistan 66%, 16 source countries

    Nearest export strengthFertilizers, animal or vegetable: whether or not mixed together or... (exports USD 5m)

    Exports of this lineUSD 2k; 1 more line in the heading, USD 24m

    Countries that export it well22

    Score 4 of 8: import bill USD 26m, top 31 per cent of candidates (1); proximity to Sri Lanka's export strengths in the top 50 per cent (1); Uzbekistan supplies 66 per cent (2).

    USD 26mfrom USD 13k in 2022

One line per customs heading. Products Sri Lanka already exports well and still imports are below, because they are a different conversation. No employment figures appear on this page, by decision.