Business News
Asia, Eastern Europe drives brewer Carlsberg's first-quarter sales
May 11, 2011, 8:31 GMT
Copenhagen - Danish brewer Carlsberg on Wednesday said sales grew 14 per cent in the first quarter mainly due to increases in Eastern Europe and Asia.
The net profit in the first three months of 2011 was 173 million kroner (33 million dollars), compared to the adjusted net profit of 77 million kroner a year earlier.
The group said first-quarter sales of 12.5 billion kroner resulted mainly from organic growth and currency effects, while operating profit was up 38 per cent to 1 billion kroner.
The business period is traditionally Carlsberg's smallest quarter. The group was 'particularly pleased that the important Russian market has returned to growth,' chief executive Jorgen Buhl Rasmussen said.
The economic recovery in Eastern Europe helped sales, and the group said it kept its share of the Russian market.
In northern and western Europe beer sales declined in the quarter, partly since the timing of Easter moved sales into the second quarter.
In Asia, the group said it had 'strong growth' in India, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam even though northern Vietnam experienced a cold weather spell during the quarter.
In its outlook for 2011, Carlsberg said its earnings expectations were unchanged. It expected continued growth in Asia and Russia, while markets in northern and western Europe would decline somewhat.
Read more about Beer
Read more about Denmark Business
COMMENT
blog comments powered by DisqusLatest Headlines in Business
- 1. US unemployment drops further, but figures disappoint
- 2. Japan stocks down as euro debt outweighs positive US data
- 3. Iraq resumes oil flow after pipeline blast in Turkey
- 4. Spanish bond auction lifts eurozone worries, sinks Japan stocks
- 5. ECB holds rates, rules out early exit from emergency measures
Older Talkback
