Sri Lanka's textile exports up 6% in Jan-November 2019

27 Jan '20

2 min read

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Sri Lanka’s earnings from textiles and garments exports increased by 6 per cent year-on-year to $5.113 billion in the first eleven months of 2019, according to the statistics released by the Central Bank of Sri Lanka. Imports of textiles and textile articles were up by 1.7 per cent to $2.661 billion, while clothing and accessories imports fell 11.4 per cent to $251.1 million during the eleven-month period.

In November 2019, Sri Lanka’s earnings from textiles and garment exports remained positive and the island nation earned $448.1 million from textiles and clothing exports, registering an increase of 3.2 per cent over exports of $469.8 million during the same month of 2018. “Earnings from textiles and garments increased in November 2019 supported by higher demand for garment exports from the EU and non-traditional markets,” the central bank said in its report ‘External Sector Performance – November 2019’.

Meanwhile, Sri Lanka’s expenditure on textiles and textile articles increased in November 2019 by 4.5 per cent year-on-year to $256.9 million, and clothing and accessories imports were down by 11.2 per cent to $20.5 million. “Import expenditure on textiles and textile articles increased, led by higher fabric and fibre imports,” the central bank said.

In 2018, Sri Lanka earned $5.317 billion in textiles and apparel exports, registering a growth of 5.7 per cent year-on-year. Of this, clothing exports alone accounted for $4.960.8 billion. On the other hand, imports increased by 4.9 per cent to $2.858 billion.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (RKS)