Global Blue, a leading tax refund service provider, says that its latest data shows that duty-free shopping in Continental Europe and Asia Pacific regions recorded a double-digit growth in January and February of this year, compared to the same months a year earlier.

In a press statement, Global Blue says that sales in stores rose 10 pc in February compared February 2024, sharply down from 29 pc growth registered in January this year over the sales in January 2024.

Global Blue says that February’s performance was negatively impacted by one less retail day and by two major calendar shifts compared to 2024, namely the Lunar New Year and the Ramadan. The statement adds that neutralising the negative impact of Lunar New Year, the average progression for January and February, reached 20 pc, in line with the 21 pc progression in Q4 2024.

Global Blue says that In Continental Europe, the sales in store rose by 9 pc in February compared with 19 pc in January, impacted by one less retail day and the shifts of Lunar New Year and Ramadan. This performance was driven by a 9 pc increase in the number of shoppers, while the average spend per shopper remained stable at 0 pc change from the last year.

Among key origin markets, US Tax Free Spend led the growth at 23 pc compared to last year and European Non-EU shoppers also recorded 23 pc growth. Meanwhile, GCC shoppers’ Tax Free spend softened to 21 pc versus 30 pc in January, reflecting the 10-day shift at the beginning of Ramadan, with a positive impact expected in April 2025. Mainland Chinese shoppers Tax Free Spend dropped 11 pc versus 1 pc growth registered in January, driven by the Lunar New Year shift.

Global Blue data on performance of tax-free shopping

Regarding destination markets, Global Blue says that February saw sustained performance across key European markets, with Spain rising 16 pc, Germany and Italy rising by 9 pc and France growing at 7 pc.

Global Blue says that in Asia Pacific, the sales in store growth reached 10 pc in February 2025, marking a softening compared to January 2025, when it had raced ahead at 46 pc, impacted by one less retail day and the shift of the Lunar New Year holidays. This performance was driven by a 17 pc increase in the number of shoppers and a 6 pc drop in the average spend per shopper.

Among key origin markets, Mainland Chinese Tax Free Spend led the growth at 19 pc versus 87 pc in January, impacted by the Lunar New Year shift. Hong Kong and Taiwan shoppers’ Tax Free Spend displayed a similar dynamic, dropping 11 pc versus 22 pc growth in January, while North East Asia shoppers’ Tax Free Spend fell more dramatically by 34 pc versus a drop of only 2 pc in January.

Regarding destination markets, February saw sustained performance across key Asia Pacific markets, namely South Korea at 50 pc growth, Japan at 14 pc rise, while Singapore saw a drop of 12 pc.