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ECONOMY

Spain’s fast fashion empire Inditex posts record net profit for 2023

Zara owner Inditex, the world's biggest fashion retailer, on Wednesday reported its highest-ever profits in 2023 thanks to buoyant sales and its policy of raising prices.

Spain's fast fashion empire Inditex posts record net profit for 2023
People walk past a Zara clothing store in Beijing. (Photo by GREG BAKER / AFP)

Its net profit reached €5.4 billion ($5.9 billion) last year, up 30 percent from €4.1 billion in 2022, which also was a record for the fashion giant whose eight brands include younger chain Pull&Bear and upmarket label Massimo Dutti.

The figure, which comes after a solid fourth quarter, was in line with the expectations of analysts polled by financial data firm FactSet, who predicted profits of €5.36 billion.

Inditex has been able “to take advantage of the opportunities to keep growing profitably,” said CEO Oscar Garcia Maceiras in a statement.

The group, which is based in the northwestern Galicia region, pointed to dynamic sales which hit a record €35.9 billion, showing a 10.4 percent increase on the year earlier.

READ ALSO: Spain’s Mango clothing chain ramps up global expansion

The results came despite a complicated global backdrop of geopolitical tensions and persistently high inflation that has weighed on purchasing power.

But such pressures seem to have had little impact with the group posting a string of records and performing well on Madrid’s Ibex 35 stock exchange.

Marta Ortega, daughter of multi-billionaire founder Amancio Ortega, took over as chair in early 2022.

Over the last year, Inditex shares have added more than 40 percent to reach 40 euros.

The results raised the market capitalisation of the Spanish retail giant to more than 127 billion, with the company saying it would pay shareholders a dividend of €1.54.

The figure, which is 28 percent higher than in 2022, is the highest in the group’s history.

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ECONOMY

Spanish economy beats growth forecast on higher exports

The Spanish economy grew more than expected in the first quarter due to higher exports and business investment, official data showed Tuesday.

Spanish economy beats growth forecast on higher exports

The eurozone’s fourth biggest economy expanded by 0.7 percent between January and March compared to the previous quarter, according to preliminary figures from national statistics institute INE, matching the revised 0.7 percent growth seen in the final three months of 2023.

The Bank of Spain had forecast the economy would expand by 0.4 percent in the first quarter.

Growth was driven by a 2.4 percent rise in exports during the first quarter and higher business investment, which rose by 2.6 percent after having dropped by 1.6 percent in the previous three months.

Household spending also helped, rising 0.3 percent, the same rate as in the previous quarter.

Economy Minister Carlos Cuerpo said the latest GDP figures demonstrates “the strong dynamism of the economy”.

The Spanish government predicts the economy will expand by 2.0 percent this year after expanding by 2.5 percent in 2023, making it one of the few bright spots of the eurozone economy.

The Bank of Spain last month raised its growth forecasts for the economy this year to 1.9 percent, up from 1.6 percent previously.

It said lower energy prices and the extension of some government measures such as discounts on urban travel to help households cope with inflation would help lift growth.

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