Unilever Sees Strong Volume Growth in India, Says CEO Fernandez

Unilever's business fundamentals in India are showing signs of improvement, with the country being a key contributor to the company's global growth.

According to Unilever CEO Fernando Fernandez, India is one of the anchor markets of the company, along with the US.

The fourth-quarter earnings report points out that the home care segment performance is excellent, with Unilever registering the growth of underlying sales at 4.7% with the backing of 4% growth in volume.

"India was a key contributor to this momentum, with home care delivering mid-single-digit volume growth, led by strong performance in liquids across fabric wash and household care, and reaching its highest ever market share," Fernandez said during Unilever's earnings call.

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The Indian subsidiary, Hindistan Unilever (HUL), posted underlying sales growth of 5% with the December quarter registering volume growth of 4%. India has a growing economic environment and business foundation, according to Fernandez, as an increasing number of companies are enhancing their brand equities and brand superiority scores. It is worth noting that Unilever is experiencing improved performance, especially in the rural zones and the traditional trade.

In 2025, Unilever's India business recorded 4 underlying sales growth and 3 volume growth, which is a positive indication of better market conditions and performance in the market. HUL has been in the premium beauty, wellbeing, and personal care segments, and the company has a strong digital commerce presence, which will further boost its growth in India.

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With India contributing around 12-14% of Unilever’s total sales, the market remains crucial for the company’s global strategy.