Starbucks China has recorded a massive 18 per cent increase in sales in the second quarter, fuelled by a 5 per cent increase in transactions.

The Chinese boost was one of a string of highlights in the quarter in which Starbucks set a new sales record of US$5 billion globally, up by 6 per cent on a same-stores basis.

The Seattle-based coffee giant served nearly 16 million more customer occasions worldwide in the three months to March 27, 12 million of those in the US where it is experiencing a resurgence.

Earnings per share rose 18 per cent to a record 39 cents, with US and Americas comp-store sales up 7 per cent. Operating profit rose 11 per cent to a second quarter record $878 million, its operating margin up to 17.3 per cent.

Starbucks boosted its worldwide store network by 350 to 23,921.

CEO and chairman Howard Schultz described the Starbucks China performance as “stunning” and said the overall financials underscored the strength of the brand and the resilience of the global retail and consumer packaged goods business.

“Loyalty, technology and innovation are continuing to fuel our digital flywheel and propel our business forward all around the world.”