In June 2025, apparel and textile shipments increased by 3.7 per cent year-on-year to $463.12 million, lifting cumulative exports for January–June to $2.6 billion, a solid 8.2 per cent gain compared to the same period in 2024.
Exports of apparel alone rose 5.2 per cent in June to $439.39 million, while half-year apparel exports jumped nearly 9 per cent to $2.46 billion.
The European Union and United Kingdom led this growth, with EU exports up 23.1 per cent to $142.92 million and UK exports climbing 20.4 per cent to $67.33 million in June. These strong results counterbalanced declines in US shipments (down 5.7 per cent to $164.39 million) and other destinations (down 9.3 per cent to $64.75 million).
For the first six months of 2025, apparel exports to the EU grew by 16.7 per cent to $769.89 million, US exports rose 4.1 per cent to $910.92 million, UK exports increased 6.45 per cent to $366.53 million, and other markets expanded 8.9 per cent to $413.60 million.
The Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) commented that these figures underscore the sector’s adaptability and the strong confidence of buyers in Sri Lankan-made garments despite global headwinds.
Apparel and textiles continued to play a pivotal role in the economy, contributing nearly 40 per cent of Sri Lanka’s total merchandise exports, which reached $6.5 billion in the first half of the year.
T&B Fashion Group, a long-standing OEM & ODM partner for global fashion brands, emphasized the importance of such market trends. “Sri Lanka’s steady expansion in the EU and UK markets reflects the resilience of its apparel industry and offers promising sourcing opportunities for global buyers,” said a spokesperson for T&B Fashion Group.
