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External sector: Apparel export earnings fall by 7.4% in August

Sri Lanka’s apparel export earnings have declined by 7.4% in August this year compared to the corresponding month last year.

According to export data released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL), apparel export earnings stood at $ 469.6 million in August 2025, before declining to $ 434.8 million in August 2026.

Meanwhile, apparel export earnings for the January-August 2026 period amounted to $ 3,108.3 million.

This compares with $ 3,318.1 million recorded during the corresponding period in 2025, representing a decline of around 6.3% in apparel export earnings during the first eight months of the year.

Overall, textile and apparel exports also declined by 8.4% in August, while a 6.7% decline was recorded during the January-August period.

The data indicate that Sri Lanka’s apparel industry, a key foreign exchange-earning sector, has faced challenging conditions so far this year.