Sri Lanka's garment exports rise 8.9% to $2.4 bn in Jan-Jun 2025

During the first half of 2025, textile exports eased by 3 per cent to $142.2 million. Over the same period, exports of other manufactured textile articles increased by 9.3 per cent, totalling $60.6 million, as reported in the Central Bank's publication External Sector Performance – June 2025.

Combined exports of textiles, garments, and other manufactured textile articles accounted for 51.64 per cent of all industrial exports from Sri Lanka during the six-month period. Total textile product exports amounted to $2,605.8 million between January and June 2025, while the country’s overall industrial exports were valued at $5,044.5 million for the same period.

In June 2025, textile and garment exports grew by 3.8 per cent year-on-year, reaching $464.1 million. By category, garment exports increased by 4.8 per cent to $428.7 million, while textile exports dipped by 16.8 per cent to $24.1 million. During the same month, exports of other manufactured textile articles rose by 24.7 per cent to $11.3 million, as reported by the Central Bank.

On the import side, textiles and textile articles rose by 0.7 per cent to $1,336.4 million, while imports of clothing and accessories increased by 33.2 per cent, amounting to $131.9 million between January and June 2025.

In June 2025, imports of textiles and textile articles decreased by 4.2 per cent to $223.6 million, while imports of clothing and accessories surged by 45 per cent year-on-year, reaching $21.3 million.

In 2024, the island nation’s garment exports totalled $4,660.1 million, marking a 4.9 per cent increase. Sri Lanka also exported textiles worth $294.5 million and other manufactured textile articles worth $106.4 million during the year. The country imported textiles and textile articles valued at $2,847.1 million and clothing and accessories worth $225.8 million in 2024.

In 2023, Sri Lanka's garment exports were valued at $4,440.6 million, a 19 per cent decrease from the $5,483.1 million exported in 2022. Meanwhile, imports of textiles and textile articles fell by 22.6 per cent to $2,371.2 million, and imports of clothing and accessories declined by 21.1 per cent to $170 million.

ALCHEMPro News Desk (KUL)