Apparel exports surge 19% in September with strong demand from US

Sri Lanka’s apparel sector posted strong growth in September 2024, with exports rising 19.06 percent year-on- year to US$ 396.73 million, driven by steady demand from key markets, official data shared by the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF) showed.

The United States, the country’s largest apparel buyer, recorded a significant 37.79 percent increase in exports, amounting to US$ 168.45 million. Shipments to the European Union (excluding the UK) also showed resilience, climbing 5.16 percent to US$ 112.30 million.

The UK, another major destination for Sri Lankan apparel, saw exports rise 9.56 percent to US$ 59.23 million, while exports to other countries grew 13.23 percent, contributing US$ 56.75 million in revenue.

Cumulative export earnings from the apparel sector in 2024 reached US$ 3.55 billion by the end of September, reflecting a 4.03 percent expansion compared to the same period in 2023. The United States continued to lead, with total exports increasing 5.04 percent year-on-year to US$ 1.43 billion. However, exports to the EU showed a marginal decline of 0.51 percent, amounting to US$ 1.02 billion over the nine-month period.

Despite the EU’s slight dip, the UK saw an 8.61 percent growth in exports, bringing in US$ 521 million, while other markets also expanded by 6.10 percent, with revenue reaching US$ 570 million.