6 Sep 2013

Lego sales up

8:35 am on 6 September 2013

Lego of Denmark has reported a 13% increase in toy sales.

The company generated sales of $US1.8 billion for the six months to 30 June, up from the same period last year.

First-half profits hit $US550 million and its market share rose to 8.8%.

Slow sales in Europe and the United States were offset by a boom in Asia, where sales soared by 35% in the first half of the year.

In March, the company announced plans to build its first factory in China. Construction is due to begin next year.

Lego is an abbreviation of the Danish words leg godt, meaning "play well".