Sri Lanka exporters face serious shortages of agricultural and spice raw materials following the widespread devastation caused by Cyclone Ditwah, raising concerns over production continuity, export commitments, and recovery timelines, according to the Export Development Board.
Sri Lanka exporters assess raw material shortages after Ditwah devastation
Sri Lanka exporters face serious shortages of raw materials in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, with agricultural and spice producers among the hardest hit, as damage assessments continue across multiple districts. The disruption threatens not only near-term export volumes but also longer-term supply reliability in some of the country’s most valuable export segments.
Export Development Board Chairman Mangala Wijesinghe said at least 573 exporters have been identified as directly affected by the disaster, which struck in late November 2025. The majority of impacted businesses are located in Colombo, Gampaha, Puttalam, Kurunegala, and Kandy districts, regions that play a central role in agricultural production, processing, and export logistics.
According to Wijesinghe, exporters are facing acute challenges linked to both transport disruptions and a lack of raw materials, particularly in agriculture-based exports and spices. While floodwaters have receded in several areas, access to farms, collection centres, and processing facilities remains constrained due to damaged roads and bridges. These conditions have slowed the movement of goods and limited exporters’ ability to source consistent, quality inputs.
Cyclone Ditwah has been described as the most severe storm to affect Sri Lanka in nearly a century. The system triggered extensive flooding and landslides across the central highlands and parts of the southern regions, compounding the vulnerability of rural economies already strained by recent economic instability. The agricultural sector bore a disproportionate share of the damage, with crops submerged, storage facilities destroyed, and farm infrastructure rendered unusable.
Spice exports, a cornerstone of Sri Lanka’s export earnings, have been particularly exposed. Cinnamon, pepper, cardamom, and nutmeg—together generating more than 500 million dollars annually—are largely cultivated in districts such as Matale and Kandy, which experienced significant rainfall and flooding. Thousands of hectares of spice crops were damaged or lost, raising concerns about both quantity and quality in upcoming export cycles.
Beyond cultivation losses, processing facilities suffered extensive damage, disrupting value-added activities critical to meeting international standards. In several locations, exporters reported equipment damage, contamination risks, and power supply interruptions, all of which affect compliance with strict quality and safety requirements in overseas markets. The breakdown of supply chains has also resulted in delays to harvesting and curing processes, increasing the risk of deterioration in product quality.
Industry observers warn that these disruptions could amplify existing market pressures. Earlier in the year, Sri Lanka’s spice sector faced reputational challenges linked to inferior re-exports entering global markets. Reduced output and delayed shipments following Ditwah may tighten supply further, potentially affecting buyer confidence if exporters are unable to meet contracted volumes and delivery schedules.
Wijesinghe noted that the Export Development Board is continuing to assess the full extent of the damage to exporters, emphasising that the situation remains fluid. Once the assessment is completed, the government is expected to coordinate with relevant authorities to design post-disaster support measures aimed at restoring production capacity and stabilising export operations.
Such measures may include logistical assistance, targeted financial relief, and coordination with infrastructure agencies to prioritise access routes critical for export supply chains. However, industry stakeholders caution that recovery will take time, particularly for perennial crops such as spices, where lost plants cannot be replaced quickly and yield cycles span several years.
The broader economic implications are also significant. Agricultural and spice exports provide livelihoods to thousands of smallholder farmers and workers across rural Sri Lanka. Prolonged shortages of raw materials could lead to reduced factory utilisation, job losses, and income instability in already vulnerable communities. For exporters, uncertainty over supply continuity complicates contract negotiations and pricing strategies in competitive global markets.
Analysts argue that the Ditwah devastation underscores the need for greater resilience within Sri Lanka’s export agriculture sector. Investments in climate-resilient farming practices, improved drainage and flood control, diversified sourcing, and disaster-prepared logistics planning are increasingly seen as essential rather than optional. Strengthening coordination between producers, processors, exporters, and policymakers will be critical to mitigating similar shocks in the future.
As recovery efforts begin, exporters and authorities alike face the challenge of balancing immediate relief with long-term structural improvements. While restoring damaged infrastructure and supporting affected businesses is an urgent priority, building resilience into agricultural supply chains may ultimately determine how effectively Sri Lanka safeguards its export competitiveness against future climate-related disruptions.