Unilever Reports Strong Q2 Growth and Raises Full-Year Outlook
Unilever reported strong second-quarter growth driven by volume expansion, prompting it to raise its full-year outlook. Underlying sales rose 4.8% in the first half of 2026, with a significant acceleration in Q2 to 5.8%, fueled primarily by robust volume gains. CFO Srinivas Phatak highlighted that pricing will become an increasingly important contributor later this year. The company's power brands grew at double-digit rates across several markets and categories, including beauty, personal care, and home care. Emerging markets outperformed with strong growth in Asia Pacific Africa and Latin America, particularly India where Unilever achieved record market shares. North America also showed improved performance, while Europe faced a softer environment. Unilever's first-half turnover reached €25.6 billion, slightly up from the prior year despite currency headwinds that reduced turnover by 4.9%. Underlying operating profit rose to €5.2 billion and free cash flow increased significantly compared to last year.
Tickers: $UL
Topics: consumer_products financial_performance pricing_strategy volume_growth