July 21 (Bloomberg) -- Hermes International SCA, the French maker of Birkin handbags, said second-quarter revenue rose 12 percent on demand for expensive Kelly purses in Asia.

Revenue climbed to 446.6 million euros ($634.6 million) from 398.1 million euros a year earlier, the Paris-based company said in a statement today. Credit Suisse analyst Rogerio Fujimori had estimated sales of 410 million euros.

Sales of leather handbags and accessories, the main source of the company’s revenue, rose 33 percent as demand for Kelly handbags, which sell for at least 4,000 euros, showed little effect from declining consumer spending worldwide. Hermes doesn’t discount its leather goods and customers can wait up to several years for some of the rarest models.

“Sales have made strong rebound in the second quarter,” Loic Morvan, an analyst at Paris-based Aurel Leven SA, wrote in a note today, citing “ an improvement in both the retail and wholesale networks.”

Hermes shares rose as much as 3.3 percent and were up 1.4 euros, or 1.4 percent, to 100 euros at 9:48 a.m. in Paris. Excluding currency exchange swings, revenue climbed 3.9 percent during the period, reversing a 4.7 percent slide in the first quarter.

“‘Sales have been particularly dynamic in our own stores,” the company said in the statement. “We will keep investing in the second half of the year, opening or renovating more than 10 stores in Asia and the U.S..”

Silk Ties

Revenue from silk ties and scarves gained 11 percent, while apparel sales climbed 13 percent.

Sales of watches fell 11 percent, tableware revenue declined 30 percent and perfume sales dropped 3.9 percent.

Sales gained 5 percent in France while falling 6.9 percent in the rest of Europe. The Americas region posted 14 percent growth.

Revenue in Japan, which accounts for more than a fifth of overall sales, jumped 24 percent, recovering from last year’s slump. Sales in the rest of Asia advanced 37 percent.

The company confirmed its full-year targets for stable sales on a basis excluding currency swings and for a slight decrease in current operating profit.

To contact the reporter on this story: Ladka Bauerova in Paris at lbauerova@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: July 21, 2009 03:59 EDT