Hermes bags record sales in 2017

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AFP
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A photo taken on June 11, 2015 shows Hermes Birkin bags at the Maroquinerie de la Tardoire, a Hermes workshop specialized in products made with calfskin, in Montbron, southwestern France - AFP
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PARIS: Luxury goods maker Hermes said Thursday it shrugged off economic, geopolitical and monetary uncertainty to book record sales in 2017, thanks to the strong performance of all of its divisions across all regions.

Hermes' said in a statement that revenues grew by 6.7 percent to 5.6 billion euros ($6.9 billion) last year.

The group said that growth was driven by "well-balanced contributions across the business lines and all geographical areas" and the development was "particularly healthy as it is mainly based on an increase in volumes."

"2017 was a very good year," said chief executive Axel Dumas. "We accelerated growth, which is once again faster than the sector average."

Hermes had demonstrated its "solidity year after year," despite the "very unstable and volatile" environment, he said.

The group's biggest division, leather goods and saddlery, lifted sales by 7.6 percent to 2.8 billion euros, with CEO Dumas pointing to "very strong demand for our bags."

Hermes is scheduled to publish full details of its 2017 results on March 21.