Coupang edges back to growth as recovery takes hold

Irene Dong

8th May 2026

Coupang has delivered a steadier start for FY26, with the Q1 results pointing to a business gradually regaining its footing after disruption late last year. 

The company’s revenue rose to $8.5 billion, up 8 per cent YoY, slightly ahead of expectations, as trading conditions strengthened through February and March after a weak start to the year. 

Management said January marked the low point, with order frequency, customer engagement and membership trends improving consecutively across the quarter. 

However, executives cautioned that the recovery remains incomplete.

“Our recovery is ongoing, and we have more work ahead. We’re focused on continuing to build and improve on the experience that brought customers to Coupang in the first place, across product commerce and developing offerings,” said founder Bom Kim. 

While revenue improved through the quarter, profitability came under pressure, with the company reporting lower earnings driven by a mix of temporary and investment-related factors. 

On an earnings call, management pointed to a combination of pressures weighing on margins, alongside actions taken to support customer re-engagement, including increased promotional activity during the recovery period. 

Coupang confirmed its long-term focus on scaling newer offerings and international markets, even as these segments continue to weigh on profitability.

“In Taiwan, we’re building the foundation for a truly differentiated customer experience,” Kim added. 

“Our own last-mile delivery network, which guarantees next-day delivery, now covers the vast majority of our volume, and that coverage continues to expand. We’re still in the early stages of bringing the full Rocket Delivery experience to Taiwan customers, but even at this stage, the response from customers has been remarkable.” 

Looking ahead, Coupang expects continued improvement through the second quarter, with only a modest residual impact from the disruption.