In the period January to November 2006, Sri Lanka exported leather and leather goods worth $18.71 million, 30.62% lower than the $26.96 million reported in the same period in 2005.

Sri Lankan customs officials and the country’s central bank claimed that the major cause of the decline was a significant fall in travelgoods and bag exports, which declined 30.35% year-on-year from $17.71 million in January to November 2005 to $12.05 million in the same period of 2006.
On a more positive note, footwear exports increased by 49.62% to reach $16.72 million from $11.18 million in January to November 2005.

Sri Lanka's total exports, including leather, improved 8.04% in the period to reach $6.17 billion.