Fashion
Sri Lanka’s apparel exports up 9.8% in July 2025
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 $2,673.19 million in the same period of 2024.
Growth was broad-based across markets, with exports to the EU (excluding the UK) rising by 18.2 per cent, to ‘Other’ markets by 11.02 per cent, to the UK by 5.65 per cent, and to the US by 2.91 per cent, Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) said in a release.
“The growth seen in July and over the first seven months of 2025 highlights the adaptability of Sri Lanka’s apparel industry and its firm position in key markets such as the EU. This performance reflects manufacturers’ ongoing efforts to meet buyer expectations on speed, quality, and compliance. Sustaining momentum will require expanded trade opportunities, supportive policies, and a stronger focus on value addition across the supply chain,” a spokesperson for JAAF said.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (HU)
Fashion
North India cotton yarn steady, falling rupee helps in export
Cotton yarn prices in Ludhiana also held firm, with domestic demand still sluggish and liquidity concerns limiting transactions. A local trader told Fibre*Fashion, “Spinning mills secured export orders, particularly from China, as the weaker rupee created a pricing advantage. This has strengthened mills’ confidence and helped maintain current yarn price levels.”
In Ludhiana, ** count cotton combed yarn was sold at ****;***–*** (~$*.**–*.**) per kg (inclusive of GST); ** and ** count combed yarn were traded at ****;***–*** (~$*.**–*.**) per kg and ****;***–*** (~$*.**–*.**) per kg, respectively; and carded yarn of ** count was noted at ****;***–*** (~$*.**–*.**) per kg today, according to trade sources.
Fashion
Bangladesh’s apparel sector may face crisis similar to jute’s: BKMEA
At a seminar organised by BKMEA at the Global Sourcing Expo 2025 in Purbachal, BKMEA president Mohammad Hatem said the changes in labour laws for this sector appear to have shown the ‘seeds of destruction’, just the way it happened to the jute sector. The impact will be visible later, he noted.
The domestic apparel industry may face a crisis similar to the one witnessed by the country’s jute sector once, trade body BKMEA recently cautioned.
At a seminar, BKMEA president Mohammad Hatem said the ‘deceptive’ reforms in labour laws for this sector appear to have shown the ‘seeds of destruction’, just the way it happened to the jute sector.
The impact will be visible later, he noted.
Calling the reforms ‘deceptive’, he lamented: “We feel somewhat betrayed. We are ready to hand over the keys of our factories within a year to them; we hope they will be able to run the industry as well as they run the government.”
IFIC Bank managing director Syed Mansur Mustafa said the reasons behind the reported closure of 400 factories should be properly probed, according to domestic media reports.
Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) administrator Mohammad Abdur Rahim Khan said the narrowness of Bangladesh’s export basket becomes evident during trade negotiations.
Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Fashion
Ulta Beauty lifts annual forecasts on demand for cosmetics
By
Reuters
Published
December 5, 2025
Ulta Beauty raised its annual sales and profit forecast on Thursday, betting on strong demand for its makeup and skincare products going into the holiday season.
Shares of the company, which also reported third-quarter results above estimates, were up about 5% in trading after the bell.
The cosmetic retailer enjoyed strong sales at its outlets, helped by its trendy and affordable offerings, along with marketing efforts, which helped attract shoppers, especially younger demographics.
Ulta also benefits from fast-growing demand for fragrances, as well as the popularity of celebrity-owned labels on its shelves, including Rihanna‘s Fenty Beauty.
The positive outlook comes at a time when budget-conscious consumers are pulling back on discretionary spending amid macroeconomic uncertainty, causing expectations of muted holiday spending in the U.S. this year.
“As we look ahead to the all-important holiday season, we know many consumers’ wallets are pressured and they are seeking value,” CEO Kecia Steelman said in a statement.
The company now expects annual net sales of about $12.3 billion, compared with its prior forecast of $12 billion to $12.1 billion.
It expects comparable sales to rise in the range of 4.4% to 4.7% in fiscal 2025, compared with its prior growth forecast of 2.5% to 3.5%.
Ulta Beauty said it expects annual profit of $25.20 to $25.50 per share, higher than its prior forecast of $23.85 to $24.30.
Third-quarter sales rose 12.9% to $2.86 billion, compared with the average analyst estimate of $2.72 billion, while earnings per share of $5.14 beat estimates of $4.64, as per data compiled by LSEG.
Meanwhile, lower e-commerce shipping costs and inventory shrink – a term used for lost or damaged stock – helped the company’s margins.
© Thomson Reuters 2025 All rights reserved.
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