Sri Lanka’s garment exports rose by about 9 per cent in the first seven months of 2025, reaching US $ 2.85 billion compared to the same period in 2024. This growth reflects steady demand for Sri Lankan apparel in global markets, underscoring the industry’s resilience and competitiveness despite ongoing global trade challenges.
In July 2025 alone, apparel exports increased by 9.84 per cent year-on-year, climbing to US $ 455.
16 million from US $ 414.38 million in July 2024. The strongest growth came from the European Union (excluding the UK) with a surge of 26.
69 per cent, followed by “Other” markets at 24.24 per cent. The UK showed only a modest 0.72 per cent gain, while shipments to the United States declined by 2.7 per cent.
For the full January–July 2025 period, exports totaled around US $ 2.92 billion, up from US $ 2.67 billion in the same period of the previous year. Regional performance varied, with exports to the EU (ex-UK) rising 18.2 per cent, “Other” markets growing by 11.02 per cent, the UK improving 5.65 per cent, and the US showing a smaller increase of 2.91 per cent. Industry leaders noted that this progress was driven by adaptability in meeting speed, quality, and compliance standards, though they also stressed the importance of supportive policies and greater value addition to sustain momentum.
