With a second wave of lockdowns in the West especially Europe, demand for Sri Lankan-made apparel in its key customers in the US and European Union has been hampered. Data shows from May to November, Sri Lanka’s monthly apparel exports picked up quickly to earlier year levels within a month since the first wave of lockdowns ended but the momentum started fading from October and the gap further increased in November.

Sri Lanka’s apparel exports was worth $403.7 million in June, doubling from what that of May and increased further to $469.2 million in July, just 1.4 per cent off from the same month in 2019. The momentum was maintained in August and September, with earnings recording at $440 million and $433.7 million, respectively, which were off by 11.9 per cent and 3.7 per cent, respectively, compared to the same months in 2019.

However, the country started feeling pressure from October, as the US, UK and EU, collectively accounting for half of total exports, began going for lockdowns. October and November showed Sri Lanka’s apparel exports fell to $358.2 million and $324.9 million, respectively, increasing the gap from 18.9 per cent to 32.8 percent in the two months from the same two months in 2019. The lockdowns significantly altered the buying habits in the West, as people shunned in-person visits while purchasing more food stuff and other house improvement items, instead of spending on fashion, a commodity which is of limited use when sheltering-in-place.