ECONOMYNEXT- Sri Lankan apparel exports grew 12.1 percent from a year earlier to 427 million US dollars in June 2018, with the EU and minor markets recording double digit growth, while half year exports were up 5 percent, data from an industry association said.
For the first half of 2018, apparel exports grew 5 percent to 2.4 billion US dollars, Sri Lanka's Joint Apparel Association Federation data showed.
The European market helped most to boost exports in June with the GSP+ trade benefits. Exports to the EU increased 16.35 percent to 185 million US dollars, compared to 2017.
Sri Lanka Apparel Exporters Association Chairman Felix Fernando said that he is expecting exports to the EU to grow above 10 percent in 2018.
New clients are switching from East Asian destinations to Sri Lanka over Trump-China trade war fears, and local capacities are expected to remain full for the foreseeable future due to GSP+, he said.
Exports to the US in June grew 7.8 percent to 180 million US dollars compared to a year earlier. One of Sri Lanka’s biggest US-based buyers, L Brands, is struggling, as its Victoria’s Secret store sales fell in June, a company financial statement said.
Exports to other countries increased 12.7 percent to 62 million US dollars in June compared to a year earlier.
During the first half of 2018 the US remained the biggest buyer of Sri Lankan apparel with 1 billion US dollars of exports, growing 3.8 percent.
Exports to the EU came a close second at 1 billion US dollars, growing 7.8 percent. (COLOMBO, 6 August, 2018)