Japan’s Fast Retailing, owner of global clothing brand Uniqlo, recorded its fourth consecutive year of record profit on Thursday, despite headwinds from US tariffs. The company reported an operating profit of approximately US $ 3.69 billion for the 12 months through August, up roughly 13 per cent from US $ 3.27 billion in the previous period.
The result exceeded Fast Retailing’s own forecast of US $ 3.57 billion and was slightly above the US $ 3.58 billion average estimate from 16 analysts polled by LSEG. The company has projected operating profit for the year through August 2026 to reach around US $ 4.00 billion.
From a single store in Hiroshima, western Japan, 41 years ago, Uniqlo has expanded to more than 2,500 locations worldwide, offering affordable fleeces and cotton shirts manufactured primarily in China and other Asian hubs. Analysts note that with China’s economy cooling, the company’s largest overseas market—with some 900 Uniqlo stores on the mainland—Fast Retailing has increasingly focused on North America and Europe for growth.
Industry observers highlighted that this strategy has faced challenges due to tariffs imposed by the administration of US President Donald Trump. Fast Retailing had warned in July that US tariffs would begin to have a significant impact on its operations in the market later in the year, necessitating price increases.
