Costco $COST Wholesale Corporation COST is proving that its membership model transcends borders as international divisions outpace domestic growth. March comparable sales data highlighted this shift. For the five weeks ended April 5, 2026, comparable sales in Other International markets rose 11.9%, ahead of 10.7% growth in Canada and 8.7% in the United States, supported by rising brand awareness, favorable consumer adoption and ongoing warehouse expansion.
The same trend held even after excluding the impact of gasoline prices and foreign exchange. Other International comparable sales increased 6.6% compared with 5.4% in Canada and 6.2% in the United States. This matters because it shows international strength was not simply the result of currency swings or fuel-related volatility. The growth was supported by underlying business demand.
Costco’s expanding global footprint also supports this narrative. The company now operates 291 warehouses outside the United States and Puerto Rico, including 42 in Mexico, 37 in Japan, 29 in the United Kingdom, 20 in Korea, 15 in Australia, 14 in Taiwan and seven in China.
Taken together, the latest sales data point to international markets not just as a supplementary growth driver but as a meaningful contributor to overall performance, with the potential to shape Costco’s growth profile. We note that overall comparable sales for the retail month of March rose 9.4%.