US, UK, EU drive Sri Lanka apparel exports in December

Core Insights - The apparel export sector showed significant growth in December 2025, primarily driven by increases in shipments to the US, EU, and UK markets, despite a decline in exports to other destinations [1][2][4] Market Performance - Exports to the US rose by 6.49% to $178.29 million compared to December 2024 [1] - Shipments to the EU increased by 6.76% to $141 million [1] - Exports to the UK saw a notable rise of 12.95% to $55.12 million [1] - Conversely, exports to other markets fell by 4.06% to $72.8 million [2] Annual Performance - Total apparel and textile exports for the full year 2025 reached $5.02 billion, marking a 5.42% increase from $4.76 billion in 2024, which translates to an increase of $258.18 million year-on-year [2] - Including fabric exports valued at $526.33 million, the total export value for the sector in 2025 was $5.51 billion [2] Growth Trends - The EU recorded the strongest annual growth in exports, increasing by 12.48% to $1.58 billion from $1.40 billion in 2024 [3] - Shipments to the US rose by 2.15% to $1.95 billion, while exports to the UK remained stable at $679.66 million, a slight increase of 0.74% [3] - Exports to other destinations grew by 4.80% to $815.78 million [3] Strategic Focus - The industry aims to sustain growth by enhancing competitiveness, ensuring delivery reliability, and building buyer confidence through consistent quality and responsible production [5] - Strengthening access to new and emerging markets is identified as a key strategy moving forward [5]