Shein's Annual Profit Down by More than a Third

FILE PHOTO: A company logo for fashion brand Shein is seen on a pile of gift bags on its Christmas bus as part of a nationwide promotional tour in Liverpool, Britain, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A company logo for fashion brand Shein is seen on a pile of gift bags on its Christmas bus as part of a nationwide promotional tour in Liverpool, Britain, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo
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Shein's Annual Profit Down by More than a Third

FILE PHOTO: A company logo for fashion brand Shein is seen on a pile of gift bags on its Christmas bus as part of a nationwide promotional tour in Liverpool, Britain, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A company logo for fashion brand Shein is seen on a pile of gift bags on its Christmas bus as part of a nationwide promotional tour in Liverpool, Britain, December 14, 2024. REUTERS/Phil Noble/File Photo

Online fast-fashion retailer Shein's profit dropped by more than a third last year, adding to its challenges ahead of a planned listing on the London Stock Exchange, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.

Net profit was down almost 40% at $1 billion in 2024, the report said, citing two people with knowledge of the matter.

Shein's sales for the full year rose by 19% to $38 billion, the report said, adding that the figures were from internal projections ahead of finalised accounts, Reuters reported.

The company does not publish profit guidance but the 2024 figures were far lower than the $4.8 billion in net profit and $45 billion in sales it had projected for 2024, the report added, citing a presentation seen by the newspaper.

Reuters this month reported that Shein was set to cut its valuation in the planned initial public offering (IPO) in London by almost a quarter to about $50 billion. Bloomberg reported last week that Shein was under pressure to cut its valuation as low as $30 billion

The Financial Times has also reported that the London listing could be postponed to the second half of the year after US President Donald Trump moved to end a tax exemption enjoyed by Shein, potentially denting profitability and pushing up its prices in the United States.



Primark to Open First Dubai Store

A woman speaks on her mobile phone as she browses a shop for new clothes ahead of the start of the Eid al-Fitr festival in Dubai on March 16, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
A woman speaks on her mobile phone as she browses a shop for new clothes ahead of the start of the Eid al-Fitr festival in Dubai on March 16, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
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Primark to Open First Dubai Store

A woman speaks on her mobile phone as she browses a shop for new clothes ahead of the start of the Eid al-Fitr festival in Dubai on March 16, 2026. (Photo by AFP)
A woman speaks on her mobile phone as she browses a shop for new clothes ahead of the start of the Eid al-Fitr festival in Dubai on March 16, 2026. (Photo by AFP)

Budget fashion retailer Primark has confirmed it will press ahead with opening its first Dubai store on Thursday despite the ongoing US-Israeli war with Iran, during which the emirate has been hit by Iranian missiles and drones.

Primark, owned by London-listed Associated British Foods, and its ⁠franchise partner Alshaya ⁠Group will open the store in Dubai Mall.

Primark and Alshaya plan to open two more stores in Dubai - at City Centre ⁠Mirdif in April and Mall of the Emirates in May.

Dubai's malls have seen a sharp fall in visitors since the Iran war began, reflecting a collapse in tourism.

Primark and Alshaya plan to open stores in Bahrain and Qatar by ⁠the ⁠end of the year.

Primark entered the Middle East with a store in Kuwait in October last year.

As of the end of January, Primark traded from about 475 stores in 18 countries across the UK, Europe, the Middle East and the US.


ASOS Posts 50% Profit Jump as Cost Cuts Overshadow Merchandise Value Dip

FILE PHOTO: People walk past the ASOS pop-up store in London, Britain, November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk past the ASOS pop-up store in London, Britain, November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo/File Photo
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ASOS Posts 50% Profit Jump as Cost Cuts Overshadow Merchandise Value Dip

FILE PHOTO: People walk past the ASOS pop-up store in London, Britain, November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo/File Photo
FILE PHOTO: People walk past the ASOS pop-up store in London, Britain, November 12, 2025. REUTERS/Hannah McKay/File Photo/File Photo

ASOS reported a nearly 50% jump in first-half adjusted core profit on Wednesday, as cost cuts overshadowed a 9% decline in gross merchandise value, and helped lift gross margins.

The online fashion retailer has been trying to revive its fast-fashion ⁠appeal among its ⁠core twenty-something shoppers, while sharpening its focus on profitability through tighter cost control amid intensifying competition from cheaper Chinese rivals.

British retailers have ⁠been squeezed by weaker consumer spending as high inflation has curbed discretionary purchases.

UK inflation held steady at 3% in February, official figures showed on Wednesday, ahead of a likely uptick as the Middle East war pushes prices higher.

According to Reuters, ASOS said ⁠its ⁠GMV decline improved sequentially through the reported period, with its largest market - the UK - outperforming the group with a 5% decline.

The company also reiterated its annual profit guidance of 150 million pounds ($200.7 million)-180 million pounds.


Paris Appeals Court Rejects Government's Request for Suspension of Shein's Marketplace

(FILES) This photograph shows the logo of Asian e-commerce giant Shein in its stall at the Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville (BHV) department store in Paris on November 4, 2025. (Photo by Julie SEBADELHA / AFP)
(FILES) This photograph shows the logo of Asian e-commerce giant Shein in its stall at the Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville (BHV) department store in Paris on November 4, 2025. (Photo by Julie SEBADELHA / AFP)
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Paris Appeals Court Rejects Government's Request for Suspension of Shein's Marketplace

(FILES) This photograph shows the logo of Asian e-commerce giant Shein in its stall at the Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville (BHV) department store in Paris on November 4, 2025. (Photo by Julie SEBADELHA / AFP)
(FILES) This photograph shows the logo of Asian e-commerce giant Shein in its stall at the Bazar de l'Hotel de Ville (BHV) department store in Paris on November 4, 2025. (Photo by Julie SEBADELHA / AFP)

A Paris Court of Appeal on Thursday rejected the French government's request to suspend Chinese online platform Shein's marketplace, defeating an appeal by the state after a Paris court ruled against the government in December.

Shein has ⁠been embroiled in ⁠a scandal since France's consumer watchdog DGCCRF found sex dolls resembling children and banned weapons for sale ⁠on its marketplace last year, prompting the government to attempt to suspend the platform.

In December, a Paris court had rejected the government's request to suspend the Shein site in France as a ⁠whole ⁠for three months, saying it would be "disproportionate", prompting the government to appeal the ruling.

Shein banned all sex dolls and suspended the adult products category from its marketplace globally on November 3 after the consumer watchdog's findings.