Rakuten recorded a 15.3% increase in net revenue to ¥68.67bn (£439.2m) for its first quarter ended March 31.

Net profit at the Japanese ecommerce group rose 6.8% to ¥15.73bn (£100.6m).

Results were driven by a 14.5% increase in general merchandise sales at Rakuten Ichiba in Japan and 29.6% growth from Rakuten’s international marketplaces.

Rakuten’s Kobo ebook subsidiary recorded 98% growth in revenue during the period.