Sri Lanka’s apparel and made-up articles sector demonstrated resilience, recording a robust 6.12 percent year-on-year increase in total exports for the cumulative period of January to October 2025. The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) noted that the sector "continues to hold steady despite challenging global conditions," highlighting the industry's ongoing investments in competitiveness. This strong performance saw total apparel exports sustain momentum over the first ten months of the year.

Market Divergence: EU powers ahead

While the overall January-to-October performance was strong, October 2025 saw a marginal decline of 0.05 percent compared with the previous year. This slight dip was driven by major market slowdowns, as shipments to the USA fell by 1.92 percent, and exports to the UK dropped by 11.99 percent during the month. Conversely, the European Union (EU) remained a powerhouse, recording strong growth of 12.53 percent in October. For the cumulative period, exports to the EU showed a substantial 14.05 percent increase, while the USA recorded more modest growth of 1.37 percent.

Industry Outlook: Diversification and policy support

JAAF emphasized that the positive cumulative figures "reflect the industry's resilience" and its commitment to meeting international buyer needs. Exports to the UK and other markets also reported modest cumulative growth of 0.98 percent and 8.31 percent, respectively, over the same period in 2024. Looking ahead, the industry views sustained market diversification and consistent policy support as essential to build on this momentum.