Apparel exports reach new high in March; shipments to US robust

Apparel exports have reached a new high in March and in the first quarter, an achievement which is likely to be overshadowed by the looming high duty in its biggest market the United States.

Shipments in March rose by 11.65% to $ 467 million, highest in recent months whilst for the first quarter exports rose by 11.7% to $ 1.3 billion.

As per provisional data released by the Joint Apparel Associations Forum (JAAF) yesterday imports by the US in March rose by 16.5% to $ 172 million whilst the EU saw a 14.5% increase to $ 142 million. Shipments to the UK rose by 16.7% to $ 77 million. Apparel exports to other markets declined by 5.8% to $ 76 million.

In the first quarter, apparel exports to the US grew by 11% to $ 494.6 million and to the EU by 16% to $ 392 million and the UK by 6% to $ 193.5 million. Exports to other markets grew by 12% to $ 231.6 million in the first quarter.

March exports were the highest in the past six years. The previous best was $ 435.3 million in 2021. However 2025 first quarter performance trails behind $ 1.39 billion achieved in 2022.

Strong growth in US in March was encouraging as in February shipments were down year-on-year by 7.4% to $ 153 million. Exports to UK were also down by 14.6% to $ 55 million in February.

Yesterday the Daily FT reported that the country’s apparel industry, the largest export sector and a cornerstone of foreign revenue, is bracing for heightened volatility following the US’s recent imposition of a 44% reciprocal tariff.

Although the blow was temporarily softened by a 90-day relief window, concerns among industry leaders are growing over the medium-term implications on order volumes, supply chain stability, and global competitiveness.

Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association (SLAEA) Chairperson Rajitha Jayasuriya affirmed the immediate fallout has not included mass cancellations of orders, though selective buyers have responded with caution. (See https://www.ft.lk/top-story/Stitching-through-storms/26-775696)

In a related development, the apparel industry also urged swift policy action ahead of EU’s stricter GSP+ review. (See https://www.ft.lk/front-page/Apparel-industry-urges-swift-policy-action-ahead-of-EU-s-stricter-GSP-review/44-775695)