Procter & Gamble reported that its Focus Markets delivered 7% organic sales growth in fiscal Q2, contributing nearly 30% of total net sales. This segment, which includes Latin America, South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa, saw strength across skin care and fabric care products. Management highlighted that Focus Markets’ performance more than offset a 2% organic sales decline in North America, underscoring the strategic importance of emerging-market expansion in P&G’s portfolio.

After an 8% organic sales decline in the prior year, P&G’s Greater China unit improved to a 1% decline in the latest quarter. Management attributed the rebound to targeted price promotions in fabric care and a 5% increase in premium skin care sales driven by new product launches. Although volumes remain below pre-pandemic levels, sequential improvement signals that the region could return to positive growth in the second half of the fiscal year.

Organic sales in Western Europe were flat, following a 2% decline last quarter, while Central and Eastern Europe saw a modest 3% gain thanks to strong demand for laundry detergents. But softness in hair care and oral care segments capped overall growth. P&G emphasized cost discipline and localized marketing campaigns as key levers to sustain margins in a region where input-cost inflation has eased from last year’s peak but remains above historical averages.

Global Baby Care organic sales declined 5% as consumers traded down to value-priced options. To reverse this trend, P&G is rolling out its next-generation Pampers LightDry diapers featuring a new absorbency layer, slated for launch in Q2. The company expects the innovation to drive a 3% volume uplift by year-end. P&G increased Baby Care R&D spend by 4% year-over-year to $1.9 billion, reflecting its commitment to premiumization and differentiated performance in this category.