Sri Lanka’s apparel exports increased by *.** per cent year on year (YoY) to $***.** million in September ****, driven by higher shipments to the US and European Union (EU), which offset declines in exports to the UK and other markets. However, cumulative exports during the first nine months of the year remained below those in the corresponding period of ****, according to the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF).
Apparel exports to the US, Sri Lanka’s largest market, rose by *.** per cent YoY to $***.** million in September, while shipments to the EU, excluding the UK, increased by *.* per cent to $***.** million. In contrast, exports to the UK declined by *.** per cent to $**.** million, while shipments to other destinations fell by *.** per cent to $**.** million.
Despite the monthly recovery, Sri Lanka’s cumulative apparel exports declined by *.** per cent YoY to $*.*** billion during January–September ****, compared with $*.*** billion in the corresponding period last year, representing a shortfall of approximately $*** million.
