Export / Import Manager
Manage the international trade operations of Sri Lanka's export-oriented businesses and importers — overseeing documentation, customs compliance, shipping, financing, buyer-supplier relationships, and regulatory requirements across Sri Lanka's key export sectors of tea, garments, gems, rubber, and IT services.
Export and import managers oversee the end-to-end management of international trade transactions — from the initial commercial agreement and order processing through to documentation, customs clearance, logistics coordination, payment settlement, and regulatory compliance. Sri Lanka's economy is fundamentally trade-dependent: exports account for approximately 20% of GDP, and imports (especially fuel, food, raw materials, and capital goods) are essential to the functioning of the economy. Managing these trade flows professionally is critical to national economic performance. Sri Lanka's export economy is concentrated in several sectors. Garments and textiles (approximately 40–45% of total merchandise exports) — MAS Holdings, Brandix Lanka, Hirdaramani, Hela Apparel, Teejay Lanka, Textured Jersey Lanka supply global brands (Victoria's Secret, Gap, Nike, H&M, Next, Marks & Spencer); managing the export documentation, compliance, and buyer communication for garment exports requires specialist export management capability. Tea (approximately 10–12% of exports) — the Sri Lanka Tea Board oversees quality standards; exporters (Dilmah, Unilever Tea Ceylon, Akbar Brothers, JFSL, Forbes & Walker Tea) manage the export of Ceylon Tea to over 100 countries; the tea export manager role is specific and specialised. Gems and jewellery — the National Gem and Jewellery Authority (NGJA) regulates gem exports; Sri Lanka is a major global supplier of blue sapphires, rubies, and other precious stones. Rubber products — the Rubber Development Department and Sri Lanka Rubber Institute support rubber exports; rubber gloves, tyres, and industrial rubber products. IT and BPO services exports — Sri Lanka's growing IT sector exports digital services; though the mechanics differ from goods exports, the compliance, invoicing, and international client management dimensions are analogous. On the import side, Sri Lanka imports approximately USD 15–20 billion annually of fuel, vehicles, machinery, medicines, food, and raw materials; import managers in these sectors manage the customs clearance, documentation, and logistics of bringing these goods into Sri Lanka in compliance with Sri Lanka Customs regulations, Sri Lanka Standards Institution (SLSI) requirements, and the tariff and licensing regime administered by the Ministry of Trade.
What a Export / Import Manager does daily
- Export documentation management — preparing and processing the complete set of export documentation for every international shipment: Commercial Invoice; Packing List; Bill of Lading (sea freight) or Airway Bill (air freight); Certificate of Origin (from the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce, National Chamber of Commerce, or SLTB for tea); Phytosanitary Certificate or Health Certificate (for food exports); Certificate of Conformity; SGS or Bureau Veritas inspection certificates
- Letters of Credit management — managing the LC (Letter of Credit) process: working with the buyer's issuing bank and the seller's advising and negotiating bank; ensuring all LC terms are met precisely; preparing a compliant presentation of documents within the LC's validity period; understanding UCP 600 (Uniform Customs and Practice for Documentary Credits)
- Customs clearance management (export) — completing the export declaration in Sri Lanka Customs (ASYCUDA World — the customs management system used by Sri Lanka Customs); managing customs examination; paying applicable export duties (most exports are zero-rated but some attract duties); managing pre-shipment inspection requirements
- Customs clearance management (import) — managing the import entry in ASYCUDA World; tariff classification (HS code determination); customs valuation; applicable duty and taxes calculation (Customs Duty + VAT + CESS levy + PAL — Port and Airport Development Levy); managing physical examination of goods; managing release of cargo
- Freight and logistics coordination — working with freight forwarders (Samsara Shipping, Expo Lanka Freight, CMA CGM Sri Lanka, Maersk Sri Lanka) to book sea freight or air freight; managing FCL (Full Container Load) and LCL (Less than Container Load) shipments; coordinating with Port of Colombo (SLPA — Sri Lanka Ports Authority) for cargo handling; managing container tracking
- Export finance management — managing export payment instruments (LC, Documentary Collection — D/P and D/A, Open Account); working with EXIM banks (Sri Lanka Export Credit Insurance Corporation — SLECIC, which provides export credit insurance and pre-shipment financing) to manage credit risk and payment risk on export sales
- Buyer and supplier relationship management — maintaining professional relationships with international buyers (for exporters) or overseas suppliers (for importers); managing order communication; resolving quality disputes; managing relationship continuity through contract renewal
- Trade compliance and regulatory management — staying current with Sri Lanka import/export regulations; managing import licensing requirements for controlled goods (Ministry of Trade import licensing); managing export licensing for controlled exports; ensuring compliance with destination country import regulations (EU regulations for garment exports; USA FDA requirements for food exports)
- EDB (Export Development Board) engagement — accessing EDB export promotion services; applying for export incentives and duty concession schemes; participating in EDB trade missions and international trade fairs (Colombo Trade Exhibition); accessing the Export Market Development Assistance (EMDA) scheme
- International trade agreement management — understanding Sri Lanka's Free Trade Agreements (India-Sri Lanka FTA; Pakistan-Sri Lanka FTA; Singapore-Sri Lanka FTA; SAFTA); managing tariff preference claims under these agreements (Form A / GSP for EU and UK markets; ISFTA Form; PSFTA Form)
Step-by-Step Career Roadmap
- Develop English writing and communication skills — export documentation and international correspondence is conducted in English; the quality of written English directly determines professional effectiveness in international trade
- Develop geography and international awareness — understanding Sri Lanka's major trading partners (EU, USA, India, Japan, Middle East); understanding what Sri Lanka exports and imports; following international trade news develops the commercial context for the career
- Build mathematics and arithmetic skills — customs duty calculations, freight cost analysis, and trade finance calculations require strong arithmetic
- Research Sri Lanka's export industries — visit a tea estate or tea factory; understand how Ceylon Tea is produced and exported; develop genuine interest in the Sri Lanka export economy
- Sri Lanka export sector research (tea, garments, gems)
- Geography and international trade reading
- School international day / global awareness events
- English essay and letter writing practice
- Export/import management is a specialised commercial career with strong employment in Sri Lanka's export sectors (garments, tea, gems) and trading companies; it is not a widely known career among school students but provides stable, professional employment with international dimensions from Sri Lanka