Sri Lanka's apparel exports rose by 2.3 per cent to $407.93 million in February 2025 compared to the same period in 2024.

Preliminary data from the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) shows, though overall exports grew, their performance varied across key markets. For instance, exports to both the US and the UK markets declined.

Exports to the US declined by 7.43 per cent to $153.11 million, while shipments to the UK registered a sharper fall of 14.58 per cent to $54.85 million in February 2025.

Conversely, apparel exports to the European Union (excluding the U.K.) grew by 7.54 per cent, reaching $120.69 million, and exports to other countries increased by 39.85 per cent, totaling $79.28 million.

Total apparel exports rose by 12 per cent to $845 million in the first two months of 2025,, compared to the same period in 2024.

Exports to the US market increased by 8.12 per cent to $322.86 million during the months of January and February, while exports to the EU (excluding the U.K.) grew by 17 per cent to $250.18 million. Meanwhile, exports to the UK registered a slight decline of 0.21 per cent, bringing total exports to $116.42 million for the two-month period.

Exports to other countries showed the strongest growth, rising by 23.16 per cent to $155.54 million from January to February 2025, compared to the same period in 2024.

Although the overall apparel exports figures indicate resilience, the downturn in the US and UK markets highlights ongoing challenges. This prompts industry stakeholders to explore alternative markets and develop strategies for sustained growth.

Last year, Sri Lanka's apparel export earnings grew by 5 per cent Y-o-Y to $4.7 billion.