ASOS has reported a sharp rise in international sales, as the UK online fashion retailer sets its sights on a potential launch in China within two years.
ASOS saw headline profits fall due to the continuing costs of relocating to a new warehouse.
Revenue for the six months to the end of September rose to £217m, up more than 50% on a year earlier.
Overseas sales more than doubled and continued to drive revenue growth.
Pre-tax profit was £4.5m, down from £7m a year earlier. This was due to £7m of warehouse-related costs.
While sales in the UK rose 8% to £89m, those internationally jumped by 150% to £122m.
“I am pleased to report strong first half performance… [reflecting] the increased contribution or our international business,” said Asos chief executive Nick Robertson.
“During the half we launched three more country-specific sites in Australia, Italy and Spain, taking the total number to seven.”
He added the company “remains confident” of hitting its full-year profits targets.
Asos has reported consistently strong results in recent years, in contrast to many High Street retailers who have struggled to bounce back from the recession.
The company has said it expects to hit £1bn of sales by 2015.
Robertson said he hopes to have a Chinese language website up and running in 18-24 months.
He noted that China is already a top five country for ASOS, with Chinese customers using the UK site and he sees enormous potential for the firm in that market.
“China in the last three years has added more internet users than the entire United States and it’s still only got 34 percent penetration whereas the U.S. is 79 percent,” he said.
But he would not confirm China would definitely follow the UK, United States, France, Germany, Australia, Spain and Italy as ASOS’ eighth website.
