The Danish brewer Carlsberg achieved a turnover of 72.334 million Danish kroner (9.678 million euros) in the first nine months of the fiscal year, which represents an increase of 3.4% compared with the same period of the previous year.
In Western Europe, revenue advanced 3%, to 40.733 million kroner (5.450 million euros). In Asia, Carlsberg brought in 16.260 million kroner (2.175 million euros), practically in line with the previous year, while in Eastern and Central Europe and India turnover reached 15.330 million kroner (2.051 million euros), 8% more.
Overall, the group sold 119.2 million hectoliters, almost 2% more year-on-year. Of that volume, 78.9 million corresponded to beer, 1.9% less, and the remaining 40.3 million to non-beer beverages, which rose by 10.3%.
By geographic area, Carlsberg distributed 48.9 million hectoliters in Western Europe, 1.6% more; in Asia it reached 36.1 million, 2.2% less; and in Eastern and Central Europe and India it sold 34.2 million hectoliters, 7.1% more.
The company maintained its forecasts for year-end, in which it contemplates an increase in operating profit of between 4% and 6%. However, it warned that exchange-rate fluctuations will imply a negative effect of at least 100 million kroner (13.3 million euros) on that result.
"The group recorded solid revenue growth in the third quarter, which reflects good momentum in many markets and the resilience of our beverage portfolio -which spans various categories-, factors that more than offset the difficult trading environment in China", Carlsberg chief executive Jacob Aarup-Andersen has highlighted.
"We have further strengthened our strategic alliance with PepsiCo by expanding our collaboration to Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia, which provides a solid foundation for continuing to develop our beverage portfolio across the region", he has added.