For the nine months ending December 31, Asics Corp. saw net sales increase 16.0% to ¥142.2 billion ($1.23 billion) from ¥122.6 billion ($1.10 billion) last year. Gross margin for the company increased 60 basis points to 44.0% of net sales from 43.4% during the same period last year. Net income increased 10.9% to ¥12.2 billion ($104.9 million) for the half, from ¥11.0 billion ($98.2 million) last year.
Regionally, sales in Japan increased 2.0% to ¥55.6 billion ($479.2 million) from ¥54.5 billion ($488.0 million) last year. Overall international sales increased 26.0% to ¥87.8 billion ($757.1 million) from ¥69.7 billion ($624.0 million) last year. In the U.S. sales increased 36.0% to ¥32.6 billion ($280.7 million) from ¥24.0 billion ($214.4 million) last year, while European sales increased 20.2% to ¥48.0 billion ($413.4 million) from ¥39.9 billion ($357.3 million) during the first nine months of 2005. All other regions saw sales increase 43.4% to ¥6.1 billion ($52.5 million) from ¥4.2 billion ($38.0 million) last year.
