Worldwide Primark trading update
George Weston, CEO of Primark's parent company Associated British Foods, has provided a current overview of business performance in the second half of the fiscal year, which ended September 13, 2025.
Financial highlights
In H2, Primark’s sales growth is expected to be around 1%, with growth of 1% in Q3 and projected growth of 1% in Q4. Primark’s total like-for-like sales in H2 are expected to be around 2% below last year, with a decline of 2.4% in Q3 and a projected decline of around 2% in Q4. For the full year in 2025, we expect Primark’s sales growth to be around 1%, with our store rollout programme continuing to drive sales growth of around 4%.
Our trading in the UK and Ireland was a good sequential improvement on H1 reflecting our strong product offer, particularly in womenswear, and increased digital engagement, supported by more favourable market conditions. We saw a more subdued consumer environment in Europe and trading was weaker, while performance in the US was strong. Looking ahead, we currently expect the consumer environment to remain uncertain.
Market highlights
In the UK and Ireland, sales are expected to grow around 1% in H2, a good sequential improvement on H1 and Primark’s market share increased from 6.6% to 6.8%.While the UK clothing market continued to decline, it was at a slower rate than H1, supported by favourable weather. Our performance reflects our strong product offer, particularly in womenswear, and good execution. In addition, we benefited from our increased investment and focus on digital customer engagement, including good momentum in our Click and Collect service which is now available from all 187 of our British stores.
Spain and Portugal
In Spain and Portugal, sales are expected to grow around 2% in H2. Sales were broadly flat in Q3 and are projected to grow 3% in Q4. Primark outperformed a weaker Spanish clothing market in H2 and had a good contribution from new store openings.
France and Italy
In France and Italy, sales are expected to decrease around 4% in H2 in a weaker consumer environment. Sales declined 4% in Q3 and are projected to decline 4% in Q4.
Central and Eastern Europe
Sales in Central and Eastern Europe are expected to increase around 9% in H2, driven by recent store openings. Sales grew 17% in Q3 and are projected to grow 4% in Q4.
Northern Europe
In Northern Europe, sales are expected to decline around 2% in H2, with a decline of 1% in Q3 and a projected decline of 3% in Q4. Like-for-like sales are expected to decline around 1% in H2, with growth of 0.5% in Q3 and a projected decline of 2% in Q4. While sales were softer in a weaker German market in H2, the recent restructuring of our store footprint in Germany and the Netherlands has driven much-improved sales densities and profitability.
The US
In the US, sales are expected to grow around 23% in H2, with growth of 21% in Q3 and projected growth of 24% in Q4. Our stores traded well in H2 and our value proposition resonated with customers. We made further progress with our space expansion programme, opening four new stores in H2, including our first store in Tennessee.
Across the Group, we continued to expand and optimise our store portfolio, including 15 new store openings in H2: 4 in the US, 3 in Spain, 2 in Portugal, 2 in France, 1 in Italy, 1 in Romania and 2 in the UK, as well as completing refits in 22 stores. In the Netherlands, we closed 1 store and right-sized 1 store.
Store openings in the Middle East
We made good progress with preparations for the first store openings in the Middle East under our franchise agreement, which will start with one store in Kuwait in October 2025 and two stores in Dubai in early 2026.
Source: https://www.abf.co.uk/media/news/2025/2025-trading-update