October 15 (SeeNews) - UK brewer SABMiller said on Thursday its lager sales volume in Romania fell by an annual 12% in the six months to September, due to worsening economic conditions in the country.
“The economic environment continued to deteriorate in Romania and, despite improved market share, organic volumes for the half declined 12% following strong prior year comparative growth of 24%," SABMiller said in a sales report for the first half of its financial year.
It added that the group's lager sales volume declined by 1.0% on the year over the six-month period, reflecting difficult trading conditions across many of company’s markets, while soft drinks volumes were 1.0% up.
"During the period, group revenue was supported by price increases taken in the prior year. Financial performance for the half year was in line with our expectations," SABMiller said.
SABMiller's Romanian unit, Ursus Breweries, owns five breweries with combined capacity of more than seven million hectolitres a year. It produces and sells in Romania the Ursus, Timisoreana, Ciucas, Stejar, Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Redd’s, Pilsner Urquell and Azuga brands.