The company also lifted the bonus it pays to employees.
"We are pleased with this result, particularly in light of initial supply chain disruptions in the early part of the financial year, where lockdowns in response to the global pandemic saw revenues decline," Mainfreight said.
New Zealand was the worst affected by lockdowns, with April 2020 weekly revenues reduced by 40 per cent.
The company said it had prepared at the outset of the Covid-19 pandemic for the likelihood of very difficult trading conditions and a tough economic environment.
"We had strength in our balance sheet, good cash flows and our decentralised leadership structure, which allowed our people the freedom to respond and adjust to the pandemic restrictions," it said.
All five regions experienced improved sales growth through a mix of organic and market share increases, as customers, both new and existing, experienced strong consumer demand.
Operating cash flows were $376.28m, up from $300.80m in the prior year.
Mainfreight increased its discretionary profit bonus to $43.88m, up 60.8 per cent from $27.29m for the year prior.
The company has 9,232 people over 29 branches around the world. Each branch has its own profit and loss account.
At the branch level, profits need to improve from the previous year and other quality statistics need to be met, then their a bonus calculation based on that, chief executive Don Braid told the Herald.
The company also increased its Christmas bonus for 2020, up from $5.35m to $11.02m.
It was a significant result in light of the "tumultuous time" in the world's history.
"If we take ourselves back 12 months we were quite concerned about the way ahead of us," Braid said.
Businesses outside New Zealand now contribute over 76 per cent of its sales revenues and over 63 per cent of net profit.
Looking ahead, uncertainty would remain.
"Service levels need to improve, and with heavily congested supply chains affecting the world's freight lanes, we have much to achieve on behalf of our customers," the company said.
"It is our view that the heavily inflated shipping and air cargo rates will continue to be a feature of global trade while freight demand is exceeding air and sea capacity," it said.
For the first seven weeks of trading into the 2022 financial year, Mainfreight had seen similar activity levels as those of the past six months.
"This gives us confidence that we will deliver further improved results in the near term."
Braid said supply chain disruption may be longer.
"Some of our customers in the US are planning for two to four years," he said.
"That would be disastrous for supply chains around the world."
Shares in Mainfreight last traded at $74.00, up $1.00.
