Madrid (AFP) – Zara owner Inditex, one of the world’s largest fashion retailers, reported Wednesday higher profits for the first half of its fiscal year as its brands withstood fierce competition and boosted sales. The Spanish group notched three billion euros ($3.5 billion) in profits from February to July, a 6.8 percent increase on the same period in 2025.
Sales grew 7.6 percent year-on-year to reach 19.8 billion euros as “the spring/summer collections have been very well received by our customers,” Inditex said in a statement. The company said sales showed “satisfactory development both in stores and online,” with all its brands — including Pull & Bear, Massimo Dutti, Bershka, Stradivarius and Oysho — registering higher takings.
Chief executive Oscar Garcia Maceiras hailed in the statement “excellent results” that were achieved “in a highly complex global environment.” The Middle East war, triggered by US-Israeli strikes on Iran in February, rattled prospects for a world economy already jolted by Donald Trump’s tariffs and geopolitical tensions.
Like many competitors, Inditex is also facing pressure from fast-fashion online retailers such as Shein, whose rapid growth has disrupted established apparel groups. Inditex, which operates in 215 markets worldwide, said its business model, “characterised by flexibility, responsiveness and within-season sourcing, permits us to react to fashion trends, reinforcing our unique market position” in a fragmented sector.
“By continually investing in our stores, our global online channel and our centralised logistics platforms, with an accompanying focus on sustainability, we will continue to generate long-term growth,” the group said.
© 2024 AFP
