Sri Lanka’s apparel industry recorded a solid performance during the first eleven months of 2025, with cumulative exports reaching US$4.57 billion, reflecting a 5.42% increase compared with the same period last year, according to data released by the Joint Apparel Association Forum.

Total apparel exports for November 2025 amounted to US$367.60 million, representing a slight decrease of 1.96% compared with US$374.94 million achieved in November 2024. Performance across key markets during the month was mixed.

Exports to the United States reached US$152.32 million, up 5.79% year-on-year, while shipments to the European Union excluding the UK rose by 3.35% to US$119.61 million. In contrast, exports to the United Kingdom declined by 13.83% to US$43.63 million, and exports to other markets fell by 19.44% to US$52.04 million.

Despite the softer November figures, cumulative exports from January to November 2025 underline the sector’s resilience, rising to US$4,571.99 million from US$4,336.84 million in the corresponding period of 2024.

The European Union excluding the UK delivered the strongest year-to-date growth, increasing by 13.07% to US$1,435.39 million. Exports to other markets rose by 5.75% to US$742.98 million, while shipments to the United States grew by 1.73% to US$1,769.08 million. Exports to the United Kingdom edged down slightly by 0.22% to US$624.54 million.

Commenting on the results, the Joint Apparel Association Forum said the overall growth reflected the industry’s ability to adapt to challenging global conditions. It highlighted particularly strong momentum in the European Union, driven by closer buyer relationships and compliance with sustainability requirements, alongside continued competitiveness in the US market based on quality, delivery and ethical manufacturing standards.

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