Swire Pacific posts record first-half profit as investment surges to fresh high

Swire Pacific – whose high-profile assets include Hong Kong’s flag carrier Cathay Pacific Airways, Swire Properties and Swire Coca-Cola – logged a record first-half profit during the first six months of the year, with the company’s investment also hitting a new high. The Hong Kong-based conglomerate posted a recurring underlying profit of HK$6.96 billion (US$887 million) for the first half of 2026, up 48 per cent year on year, it said in a filing with the Hong Kong exchange on Thursday. “We are confident in the outlook for the remainder of the year,” said Guy Bradley, chairman of Swire Pacific, during a press conference in Hong Kong on Thursday. “There is plenty of money going out into investing for the future.” The group’s level of investment has also hit a record high, with Cathay Group investing HK$150 billion, Swire Properties HK$100 billion, and Swire Coca-Cola 12 billion yuan (US$1.8 billion), the company said. All of the investment will go into the group’s core markets of the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, according to Bradley. “I don’t see any reason to stop investing in this part of the world,” he said. Cathay Group – which operates several airlines including Cathay Pacific – performed solidly in the first quarter. While demand remained high in the second quarter, jet fuel prices rose sharply due to the conflict in the Middle East. Its first-half profit reached HK$2.83 billion, up 72 per cent year on year, according to the filing. The airline group has committed about HK$150 billion for investments into its fleet, cabin and lounge products, and digital innovation. Meanwhile, Swire Properties has allocated HK$100 billion for investment over the 10-year period from 2022 to 2032, with HK$50 billion earmarked for the mainland, according to the company. Nearly 70 per cent of that investment has already been committed, the group said in its filing. The developer posted an underlying profit of HK$4.08 billion for the first half, up 11.5 per cent year on year. The improved result was primarily driven by residential trading profits, most notably from the completed sales of 6 Deep Water Bay Road in Hong Kong. The company is focused on upgrading two flagship Hong Kong developments, Pacific Place and Taikoo Place, the filing said. Swire Properties also delivered a solid performance in the Chinese mainland, where it has seven projects under development. Separately, Swire Coca-Cola logged significantly improved results in mainland China during the year to June, driven by stronger consumer sentiment and ongoing investment in e-commerce channels. It reported a first-half profit of HK$846 million, up 5 per cent year on year. The company said it was pressing ahead with plans to invest 12 billion yuan in new facilities and equipment on the mainland. It recently opened two new facilities in Kunshan, Jiangsu province, and Guangzhou, Guangdong province, respectively. Southeast Asia also remains an important growth market for Swire Coca-Cola, and its integration of new franchises in the region is progressing well, following sizeable recent investments, it said. “Looking ahead, we do see an ongoing recovery in consumer sentiment and expect the operating environment to improve further in the rest of the year,” Bradley said. “We remain confident that our strategy of making long-term investments in our core markets is the right one.” The company declared a first interim dividend of HK$1.50 per A share and HK$0.30 per B share, which represents an increase of 15 per cent compared with the first interim dividend in 2025.