Sri Lankaโs garment and textile export earnings declined by 4.84 percent during the first five months of 2026 compared to the corresponding period last year, although the sector recorded a strong recovery in May, according to the Export Development Board (EDB).
EDB data showed that export revenue from garments and textiles fell to US$ 2,033.39 million during the January-May period this year from US$ 2,136.74 million recorded in the same period of 2025. However, the sector posted a positive performance in May, with export earnings increasing by 6.66 percent year-on-year. Garment and textile exports generated US$ 414.72 million in May 2026, compared to US$ 388.81 million in May last year.
Speaking at a press conference at the Department of Government Information, EDB Chairman and CEO Mangala Wijesinghe said exporters experienced setbacks during the first three months of the year due to a decline in export earnings and rising transportation costs.
Despite the weaker performance in the opening months of the year, Wijesinghe expressed confidence that the garment sector could still help the country achieve its export target for 2026, citing the encouraging recovery recorded in May. (DSA)
Source : Daily News
