Japanese ecommerce giant Rakuten booked $2.56 billion in revenue in the first half of 2012

Japan-based but global ecommerce juggernaut Rakuten reported its financial results for the first 6 months of the fiscal and calendar year this morning, revealing that its revenues exceeded ¥200,5 million (roughly $2.56 billion), up almost 13 percent compared to the same period last year.

Rakuten reported an operating profit of ¥35,224 million (approximately $450 million), with net income of ¥19,545 million ($250 million) for the first six months of the current fiscal year.

This is a significant turnaround from the ¥41,923 million ($535 million) net loss Rakuten booked in the first half of the year.

For the full year 2011, Rakuten reported $4.75 billion in annual revenue, so it’s on course to surpass that figure this year.

The <3 of EU tech

The latest rumblings from the EU tech scene, a story from our wise ol' founder Boris, and some questionable AI art. It's free, every week, in your inbox. Sign up now!

The company, which is out to ‘destroy Amazon’, was founded in 1997 and currently employs more than 8,000 people.

In its earnings report, Rakuten notes that it aims to bring its flagship Ichiba’s BtoBtoC marketplace model to the world and put more effort in its smartphone and tablet initiatives.

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the first half of the fiscal year were a whoping ¥188,031 million ($2.4 billion).

Rakuten owns businesses like Kobo, Play.com, Buy.com, Tradoria and stakes in Pinterest and Ozon.ru.

You can check out more TNW coverage on the happenings in Asia here.

Also read:

Pinterest raises $100m from Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten, previous backers

Japanese retailer Rakuten botches Kobo Touch launch

Kindle competitor Kobo announces a year of triple digit growth

Japanese e-commerce giant Rakuten buys Spanish video-on-demand firm Wuaki.tv