Hong Kong-listed apparel retailer Giordano says all three of its core markets – Greater China, Southeast Asia and the Gulf Cooperation Council – reported sales growth during the half.

With substantial progress to date, the affordable clothing brand is “cautiously optimistic” about maintaining profitability as it pursues growth in developing countries, it said in a stock exchange filing in Hong Kong.

According to unaudited accounts for the half to June, group sales were up 5 per cent to US$251 million while tax-paid profits attributable to shareholders reached $24.29 million during the year – an increase of 97 per cent.

Online sales grew at 8.2 per cent during the period, notably in Greater China while adjusted EBITDA totalled $66.4 million.

Performance in Southeast Asia remained strong with Indonesia and Thailand being the main profit drivers, buoyed by heightened tourist arrivals, the company said.

“The group will continue to upgrade its brand image by deploying more resources on marketing and defending its selling prices in the inflationary environment.

“The group is also carrying out extensive in-house training in generative artificial intelligence. We aim to equip our staff with the requisite skills ahead of the competition,” it said.