Sri Lanka's garment exports rise 9.9% in Jan-May 2025

During the first five months of 2025, textile exports gained by 0.4 per cent to $118.1 million. Over the same period, exports of other manufactured textile articles increased by 6.3 per cent, totalling $49.1 million, as reported in the Central Bank's publication External Sector Performance – May 2025.

Combined exports of textiles, garments, and other manufactured textile articles accounted for 51.46 per cent of all industrial exports from Sri Lanka during the five-month period. Total textile product exports amounted to $2,141.7 million between January and May 2025, while the country’s overall industrial exports were valued at $4,160.7 million for the same period.

In May 2025, textile and garment exports eased by 0.3 per cent year-on-year, reaching $389.9 million. By category, garment exports decreased by 1.3 per cent to $355.0 million, while textile exports increased by 4.9 per cent to $24.3 million. During the same month, exports of other manufactured textile articles rose by 28.2 per cent to $10.6 million, as reported by the Central Bank.

On the import side, textiles and textile articles rose by 1.7 per cent to $1,112.8 million, while imports of clothing and accessories increased by 31.2 per cent, amounting to $110.6 million between January and May 2025.

In May 2025, imports of textiles and textile articles decreased by 4.3 per cent to $217.6 million, while imports of clothing and accessories surged by 60.8 per cent year-on-year, reaching $22.4 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)