Descente, Kolon Sport Surge Drives Record H1 Revenue for Anta Sports
28/August/2026
Anta Sports Products Ltd. reported a 12.9% year-on-year surge in first-half 2026 revenue to a record RMB 43.51 billion ($6.39 billion), propelled by explosive growth in its premium outdoor brand portfolio. Operating profit for China's leading sportswear group rose 16.1% to RMB 11.76 billion, while overall gross profit margin expanded 50 basis points to 63.9%, bolstered by higher-margin niche outdoor performance brands.
Outdoor Division Outpaces Core Brands
While mass-market sportswear faced intense domestic competition, Anta's "All Other Brands" segment—anchored by Descente, Kolon Sport, and recently integrated Jack Wolfskin—served as the group’s primary engine of expansion:
Outdoor Portfolio Surge: Revenue across the specialized outdoor segment surged 44.2% year-on-year to RMB 10.69 billion, crossing the RMB 10-billion mark in a half-year period for the first time. Operating profit for the division climbed 43.9% to RMB 3.54 billion, maintaining an industry-leading operating margin of 33.1%.
FILA Maintains Steady Premium Path: The FILA division generated RMB 15.05 billion in revenue, up 6.1%. Operational efficiencies pushed FILA’s operating margin up 1.0 percentage point to 28.7%, despite minor gross margin compression driven by e-commerce expansion.
Core Anta Resilient: The flagship Anta brand posted RMB 17.77 billion in revenue, up 4.8%, supported by growth in children's wear and digital channels. Operating margin dipped slightly by 0.8 percentage points to 22.5% as the group increased R&D and international brand-building investments.
H1 2026 Performance Breakdown by Brand Segment
Brand Segment | H1 2026 Revenue (RMB) | YoY Revenue Growth | Operating Margin | Strategic Focus |
Anta (Core) | 17.77 Billion | +4.8% | 22.5% | Mass market leadership, D2C retail, global R&D |
FILA | 15.05 Billion | +6.1% | 28.7% | Brand elevation, online growth, product innovation |
Outdoor Brands (Descente, Kolon, Jack Wolfskin) | 10.69 Billion | +44.2% | 33.1% | Premium technical gear, rapid store network expansion |
Strategic Outlook & Operational Strength
Free cash flow jumped 54.2% to RMB 11.63 billion, providing significant liquidity to fund ongoing internationalization and M&A activities. Looking ahead to the second half, Anta plans to launch a retail refresh for Jack Wolfskin and advance its investment in AI tools across design, R&D, and supply chain logistics.
