Sri Lanka’s apparel exports have recorded steady growth in July 2025, rising by 9.84 per cent to $455.16 million compared with $414.38 million in July 2024. Exports to the EU (excluding the UK) posted the strongest gain of 26.69 per cent, while shipments to ‘Other’ markets grew by 24.24 per cent. The UK market saw only a marginal increase of 0.72 per cent, and exports to the US declined by 2.7 per cent during the month.

Sri Lanka’s apparel exports rose 9.84 per cent YoY in July 2025 to $455.16 million, driven by a 26.69 per cent surge to the EU and 24.24 per cent to ‘Other’ markets, though the US fell 2.7 per cent.
January–July exports grew 9.09 per cent to $2.92 billion, with gains across all key destinations.
JAAF said the performance reflects adaptability, urging trade support and value addition to sustain growth.

For the cumulative period of January to July 2025, total apparel exports reached $2,916.10 million, up 9.09 per cent from $2,673.19 million in the same period of 2024.

Growth was broad-based across markets, with exports to the EU (excluding the UK) rising by 18.2 per cent, to ‘Other’ markets by 11.02 per cent, to the UK by 5.65 per cent, and to the US by 2.91 per cent, Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) said in a release.

“The growth seen in July and over the first seven months of 2025 highlights the adaptability of Sri Lanka’s apparel industry and its firm position in key markets such as the EU. This performance reflects manufacturers’ ongoing efforts to meet buyer expectations on speed, quality, and compliance. Sustaining momentum will require expanded trade opportunities, supportive policies, and a stronger focus on value addition across the supply chain,” a spokesperson for JAAF said.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)