Prada posts 28 percent drop in profit

An outlet of Prada SpA in Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province. Prada plans to open fewer stores.[Provided to China Daily]

Prada SpA reported a 28 percent drop in full-year profit as fewer Chinese shoppers splurged on $2,950 leather handbags and other luxury products.

Net income in the year through January fell to 450.7 million euros ($490.9 million), Milan-based Prada said on Monday in a statement. Analysts had predicted 468 million euros, according to the average of estimates compiled by Bloomberg.

Prada plans to open fewer stores and introduce more bags priced in the range of 1,000 euros to 1,200 euros as it seeks to revive revenue that fell last year amid a slowdown in China. The moves are designed to redress errors such as having an overly expensive product mix and a lack of novelty that have led shoppers to spend elsewhere, according to Exane BNP Paribas.

"There has been a major overhaul of certain internal production processes, the effects of which will be visible from next year," Prada said in the statement.

Revenue fell 1 percent to 3.55 billion euros, the owner of brands including Miu Miu said in February.

Global economic uncertainty and political and social tension have affected several markets, while fewer tourists have also weighed on sales, the company said.

Sales in the Asia-Pacific region－the group's largest market, contributing 36 percent of the total－dropped 3 percent, driven by poor performance in Hong Kong and Macao, the company said. Revenues in Europe were down 5 percent, it said.

Chinese mainland tourists accounted for 78 percent of Hong Kong's visitors last year, and their changing habits have rippled through the economy and dragged down luxury companies. Sales of luxury goods plunged 14 percent last year, when the city saw its first annual drop in retail sales since 2003.

Revenues in the Middle East surged 14 percent, helped by demand for footwear and Miu Miu-branded products. Sales rose 8 percent in Japan and 1 percent in Americas, the company said.