Luxury / news
Hermès Posts Steady First-Half Sales Amid China Stabilisation
Hermès reported first-half revenue of €8.2 billion, with growth of 6.1% at constant exchange rates, while noting that China is not showing signs of recovery yet.
Paris-based luxury house Hermès saw sales rise 1.6% on a reported basis to €8.2 billion in the first half of 2026, with constant-exchange-rate growth of 6.1%. Net profit remained stable, although the margin slipped slightly to still exceed 26%. Currency headwinds took a €360 million toll on the period.
Executive chairman Axel Dumas said saddlery and leather goods posted double-digit gains, and reiterated a commitment to production discipline over volume. “My approach is to try to grow whilst manufacturing our bags to our exacting quality standards,” he said, adding that training craftsmen to a high standard is central to the group’s long-term strategy.
The family-run group added more than 600 jobs in the first half, over half of them in France. Dumas also highlighted the company’s response to summer fires in Fontainebleau and Gironde, mentioning employees and volunteer firefighters among those affected.
Addressing Asia, Dumas said the situation in China had stabilised but was not yet signalling a recovery. The market remains a key focus for the brand, which has nearly doubled sales since the start of the decade.