The Japanese trading group Fast Retailing Co. Ltd. has completed the first half of the 2024/25 financial year with new records in sales and results. In view of the recently surprisingly positive development, the parent company of the Uniqlo clothing chain on Thursday raised its winning forecast for the year as a whole.
In the first half of the year, which ended on February 28th, the group turnover was 1.79 trillion Japanese yen (11.1 billion euros). This corresponded to an increase of 12.0 percent compared to the same period last year.
Uniqlo achieves high sales growth in Europe and North America
Uniqlo revenues in the Japanese home market rose by 11.6 percent to 541.5 billion Japanese yen. The Uniqlo International segment developed even more dynamically, whose sales increased by 14.7 percent to 1.01 trillion Japanese yen.
Losses in China could be more than made up for by strong growth in the other foreign markets. The proceeds in Europe rose by around 30 percent and thus exceeded expectations. In North America, the group achieved an increase in sales of around 25 percent.
Half -annual sales of the group brand GU rose by 3.9 percent to 165.8 billion Japanese yen. The other labels of the group of companies, which include theory, Plst and Comptoir of the Cotonnier, came together to turn a turnover of 67.7 billion Japanese yen and thus missed the corresponding level of previous year by 2.3 percent.
The half -year profit increases by 19 percent
Thanks to the strong sales growth and a slightly improved gross strain, the operational result rose by 18.3 percent to 304.2 billion Japanese yen. The net profit, which was due to the shareholders, reached a height of 233.6 billion Yen (1.4 billion euros) in the first half of the year. This increased by 19.2 percent compared to the same period last year.
In view of the unexpectedly positive development in recent months, management raised its result forecasts for the current financial year. The goal for the operational profit, which was previously 530.0 billion Japanese Yen, has been increased to 545.0 billion Japanese yen.
In addition, the group is now expecting an annual surplus of 410.0 billion Japanese yen after 385.0 billion Yenes had previously been expected. The sales forecast remained unchanged and is therefore still 3.40 trillion Japanese yen.