LONDON: Carlsberg reported on Wednesday forecast-beating first-quarter revenue and volumes, bringing some cheer for the Danish brewer as the industry confronts challenges from the Iran war that threaten to drive costs higher and hit demand.
The world's third-largest brewer and its larger peers Anheuser-Busch InBev and Heineken have all been struggling to sell more beer in the face of everything, from bad weather to geopolitical uncertainty.
Now, conflict in the Middle East could make things like cans, bottles and fertiliser more expensive and add more strain on drinkers' wallets and to their worries about the future.
Carlsberg maintained its full-year profit guidance but warned the environment and consumer sentiment were "volatile and uncertain".
The maker of brands including Kronenbourg 1664, Tuborg and Somersby reported a 3.6% organic rise in first-quarter net revenue to 20.72 billion Danish crowns, a little above analyst expectations for 20.63 billion crowns. Its volumes rose 2.8% organically and were also ahead of forecasts. - Reuters
