Sales of vacuum cleaners, air purifiers and hairdryers to Asia’s growing middle classes saw Wiltshire-based Dyson (www.dyson.co.uk) record a 41% increase in its profits last year, after its sales grew by more than 200% in China, Indonesia and the Philippines.

The company reported profits of £631 million in 2016, with its turnover growing by 45% to £2.5 billion. A total of 12 new products were launched during the year, and the group’s UK business grew by a third.

Although the USA is Dyson’s single largest market, founder Sir James Dyson said that China is “probably now fourth on the list”, while India is the company’s “number-one” target. “It is not an easy market, but we hope to be able to start there this year. In the long term, we will be making things there as well.”

Sir James added: “Software is propelling hardware companies at a faster rate than it is propelling software companies. The power comes from the two working together. That is precisely what we are developing, in our new technology campuses in Malmesbury and Hullavington and at our centre in Singapore.”