Unilever reports USD 14.8B turnover in Q3 FY26 as personal care drives volume growth

UK – Unilever has reported strong third-quarter performance, with underlying sales growth of 5.2%, driven by 2.9% volume growth and 2.3% price growth. 

According to Unilever, continued volume delivery and higher pricing helped offset increased commodity costs. 

Emerging markets remained a key driver, delivering broad-based growth led by India and supported by Latin America and South East Asia, while developed markets faced tougher prior-year comparisons and softer Foods performance.

Chief executive Fernando Fernandez said Unilever is “performing while transforming,” becoming simpler and sharper through greater focus, stronger execution, and its “Desire at Scale” strategy. 

This progress led the company to raise its full-year 2026 underlying volume-growth outlook to at least 3%. 

Unilever still expects full-year underlying sales growth of 4% to 6%, a modest improvement in underlying operating margin versus 20.0% in 2025, and second-half underlying sales growth of around 5%.

Year-to-date, underlying sales growth was 4.9%, including 3.8% volume growth. Power Brands grew 5.8%, with 3.3% volume growth. 

Beauty & Wellbeing grew 5.7%, with 3.6% volume and 2.1% price. Hair Care grew double-digit, led by Dove, Sunsilk, and Clear, while skin care grew mid-single digit, supported by Vaseline and prestige brands Hourglass, Paula’s Choice, and Dermalogica.

Personal Care grew 6.3%, with 3.8% volume and 2.4% price.

Home Care was the strongest division, growing 9.1%, with 5.4% volume and 3.6% price. Fabric cleaning grew double-digit, while home and hygiene and fabric enhancers grew mid-single digit. 

Asia Pacific Africa and Latin America led growth, including strong results in India and Brazil.

Meanwhile, Foods grew just 0.1%, with volume down 1.1% and price up 1.3%. Unilever Food Solutions grew low-single digit, while Cooking Aids and Condiments were broadly flat.

Emerging markets grew 9.5%, with 6.0% volume and 3.3% price, including double-digit growth in India, Turkey, Vietnam, and Pakistan. 

Developed markets declined 0.9%, with North America down 0.7% and Europe down 1.7%. 

Turnover rose 6.7% to €13.3 billion (USD 14.80 billion), helped by a 0.8% net contribution from acquisitions and disposals and a 0.6% currency benefit.

Unilever’s Foods combination with McCormick, announced in March 2026, is progressing well, with more than 200 employees working across 20 cross-functional teams. 

Regulatory filings are on schedule, although closing remains subject to approvals and customary conditions. 

The company also completed the sale of its Colombian Home Care business in August 2026 and maintained its quarterly dividend at €0.4664 (USD 0.52), 3.0% higher than a year earlier.

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