Sri Lanka’s apparel exports fell 11.74 percent in June from a year earlier to 408.75 million US dollars, with shipments to the UK and European Union recording steep declines amid weak global demand, official data showed.
Exports to the UK fell 29.23 percent year-on-year, while shipments to the European Union declined 17.79 percent. Exports to the United States, Sri Lanka’s largest apparel market, fell 3.31 percent.
“The Apparel and Textiles sector faced a challenging period in June 2026,” the Export Development Board (EDB) said in a statement.
“The performance reflects the continued challenges faced by the global apparel industry, including subdued consumer demand and evolving market conditions, which have impacted export orders during the period.”
The decline mirrors trends across several Asian apparel manufacturing hubs.
Bangladesh’s The Daily Star, citing Eurostat data, reported that Bangladesh’s apparel exports to the European Union fell 18.89 percent between January and May from a year earlier. India’s exports declined 13.3 percent over the same period, while Cambodia’s shipments fell 10.77 percent.
Bangladesh media have also reported that dozens of garment factories have closed in recent months, leaving thousands of workers unemployed.
Higher production costs have added to pressures on manufacturers after conflict in the Middle East drove up global energy prices, increasing the cost of petroleum-based synthetic fibres such as nylon, polyester and acrylic.
Weak consumer demand has also weighed on apparel purchases in key export markets following several years of elevated inflation.
Sri Lanka’s situation differs from Bangladesh’s, where changes in sourcing patterns have developed over a longer period, an apparel industry official said.
The official said some key international buyers that had built up inventories were now reducing stock levels, contributing to lower orders from Sri Lankan manufacturers during June.
