30% more earnings before interest and taxes at Carlsberg

Eastern Europe helped Carlsberg to post higher-than-expected 2007 operating profit.

 
The world's fifth-biggest brewer reported earnings before interest
and taxes of 5.3 billion Danish crowns ($1.04 billion). The figure
was up 30 percent from 2006 . Sales in 2007 rose 9 percent to 44.8
billion crowns. Carlsberg said all regions contributed to the
increase in sales, although its 50-50 eastern European venture with
S&N, Baltic Beverages Holding (BBH), and the rest of eastern
Europe accounted for more than 90 percent of the increase.
Copenhagen-based Carlsberg said it sold slightly more than 115
million hectolitres of beer in 2007, 14 percent up on 2006. BBH beer
volumes were up 25 percent, Carlsberg said. In Russia, volumes rose
19 percent against 2007 market growth of 16 percent.

Carlsberg, which brews Tuborg and Holsten beers as well as its own
brand, said it would be able to raise beer prices enough to cover the
rising cost in raw materials. Key input costs for beer production are
aluminium and malting barley as well as packaging. The 2008 EBIT
guidance of 5.9 billion crowns based on the current business was in
line with consensus.