Sri Lanka’s earnings from garments exports grew by 30 percent to $446 million in May 2022, compared to May 2021, according to the Joint Apparel Association Forum (JAAF). Export of garments to all major markets, such as the United States, the European Union, and the United Kingdom, improved in May 2022.

Contributing approximately 6 per cent to Sri Lanka’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and accounting to nearly half of all merchandise exports, the garment industry forms the backbone of the national economy, the Joint Apparel Association Forum says.

While the industry continues to face significant constraints due to ongoing disruptions in energy supply and freight operations, the sector’s cumulative export earnings in the first five months of the year rose by 16.7 per cent to $2.2 billion, JAAF noted. For 2022, the country aims to earn $6 billion from garment exports, which the industry is hopeful of achieving despite the current environment.