“The completion of planned de-stocking in the second half of the year affected Poland and Romania, which together with the effects of continuing competitor price reductions and promotional activity, resulted in volume declines of 4% and 8% respectively for the year,” SABMiller said in a report Thursday.
SABMiller, the world’s second largest beer producer, owns Ursus Breweries in Romania, with production units in Timisoara, Cluj-Napoca, Buzau and Brasov. The group also bought Bere Azuga, through Ursus Breweries, in January 2009.
In Europe, full year lager volumes declined by 1% on an organic basis as beer market growth continued to be subdued and competitors aggressively promoted economy brands and packs, the company said in its report.
In the Czech Republic, domestic volumes were in line with the prior year, while in Russia, volumes were up 2%, ahead of beer market performance, and strong growth continued in Ukraine, the brewer also said in its report.
In the UK, SABMiller achieved volume growth of 8% for the full year.
Worldwide, the company’s sales rose 3% in volume for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, on an organic basis, and soft drinks volumes rose by 7%.