SABMiller, one of the world’s leading brewers, reported a 1% decrease in like-for-like global volumes in the first half of the 2009 financial year which ended on September 30.
The brewing giant saw a 15% rise in the UK market, but in Europe lager volumes were down 6% with Czech Republic, Poland, Romania and Russia all declined. There also was a volumes decrease in Latin America and South Africa. As for USA, sales of Millercoors — the SABMiller’s joint venture with Molson Coors Brewing — fell 1%.
In China the situation was better — SABMiller reported a 12% rise in volumes here.
According to company’s representatives, its performance in first six months of the 2009 financial year met the expectations. The revenue was supported by a price increase made in proper time.