Anta Sports reports revenue surge for first-half of 2025

Anta Sports Products Ltd posted its first-half 2025 results on Wednesday, reporting that revenue surged 14.3 percent year-on-year to 38.54 billion yuan ($5.4 billion), while net profit rose 14.5 percent to 7.03 billion yuan ($985.71 million). All brands achieved new half-year revenue highs, marking the group's 12th consecutive year of growth.

Board Chairman Ding Shizhong emphasized the company's resilience in a highly competitive global market, noting that its "multi-brand portfolio and brand-plus-retail model" were key drivers of the solid performance.

Ding said the company was committed to deepening its global presence across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, North America and Europe. Earlier this year, the Anta brand opened its first flagship store in Beverly Hills and expanded its presence in Foot Locker and DSG retail channels across Europe and the US.

Lai Shixian, joint CEO of Anta Sports, attributed the growth to the continued strength of China's sportswear market, which he sees as having a huge long-term runway. He added that short-term growth is expected to outpace overall consumption, especially in the high-growth outdoor segment.

Within its brand portfolio, Anta brand revenue rose 5.4 percent to 16.95 billion yuan ($2.38 billion), driven by mass-market positioning and professional breakthroughs. Fila revenue grew 8.6 percent to 14.18 billion yuan ($1.99 billion), fueled by its premium sports fashion offering. Other brands — including Descent, Kolon Sport and Maia Active — posted a 61.1 percent revenue increase to 7.41 billion yuan ($1.04 billion).

Anta continues to reinforce its position as a leading sportswear player, now supporting 31 Chinese national teams and maintaining its role as the official apparel supplier to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The company's direct-to-consumer (DTC) model remains strong, with DTC sales now accounting for around 90 percent of total revenue, thanks to AI-driven innovations in management decision-making, the supply chain and customer experience.

R&D investments remain a priority, with nearly 1 billion yuan ($140.21 million) spent in the first half of the year. The company also launched the industry's first sporting goods innovation accelerator through a partnership with Plug and Play China.

Further strategic moves include the acquisition of Germany's Jack Wolfskin, where a revival plan is five-year revival plan is underway, and a 40 percent stake in Musinsa China, a joint venture with South Korea's Musinsa, designed to blend fashion and sport to better engage with younger consumers in the country.

Amer Sports, the Anta-controlled company, also delivered strong results, with revenue increasing 23.5 percent to $2.71 billion, while revenue in the Chinese market surged 42.4 percent to $856 million.