In the fourth quarter of 2015, the Adidas Group saw currency-neutral sales increased 12%, driven by accelerated momentum at both adidas and Reebok.
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In euro terms, Adidas revenues grew 15% to € 4.167 billion in the fourth quarter of 2015 from € 3.610 billion in 2014. Currency-neutral adidas revenues grew 16%, with continued double-digit sales increases in most markets including Greater China.
The brand’s performance was particularly strong in Western Europe and North America, with currency-neutral sales accelerating, up 31% and 12%, respectively. Currency-neutral Reebok sales were up 5% versus the prior year.
This development was supported by double-digit sales increases in Western Europe, Latin America and MEAA as well as strong growth in Greater China, where revenues once again more than doubled during the quarter.
Revenues at TaylorMade-adidas Golf declined 15% currency-neutral, as ongoing structural challenges in the golf market as well as the further execution of TaylorMade-adidas Golf’s restructuring programme aimed at resizing the golf business weighed on the performance during the quarter.
From a segmental perspective, combined currency-neutral sales of the adidas and Reebok brands in the fourth quarter of 2015 continued to show particularly strong growth in Western Europe, Greater China, Latin America and MEAA, with revenues up at double-digit rates each.
Currency-neutral sales in Western Europe increased 30% in the fourth quarter, with double-digit sales growth in the UK, Germany, Italy, France and Spain. North America and Greater China saw strong improvements during the fourth quarter, with currency-neutral revenues up 8% and 16%, respectively. Russia/CIS sales in the fourth quarter decreased 16% currency-neutral.
Currency-neutral sales in Latin America were up 12% in the fourth quarter, driven by double-digit sales growth in Colombia, Argentina, Peru and Mexico. Japan sales in the fourth quarter decreased 4% currency-neutral.
Currency-neutral sales in MEAA increased 17% in the fourth quarter, mainly due to double-digit sales growth in South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, India, Turkey and South Africa.
Currency-neutral sales for Other Businesses declined 3% in the fourth quarter as double-digit sales growth at Other centrally managed business was more than offset by the double-digit decrease at TaylorMade-adidas Golf and a slight decline at Reebok-CCM Hockey. ■