SAB - SABMiller Plc - Trading Update

SAB - SABMiller Plc - Trading Update                                            
SABMiller plc                                                                   
JSEALPHA CODE: SAB                                                              
ISSUER CODE: SOSAB                                                              
ISIN CODE: GB0004835483                                                         
SABMiller plc - Trading Update                                                  
SABMiller plc today issues its interim management statement for the group`s     
third quarter ended 31 December 2010 which also represents a trading update for 
the same period. The calculation of the organic growth rates excludes the       
effects of acquisitions and disposals.                                          
On an organic basis lager volumes for the third quarter were 3% higher than the 
prior year, and 2% higher than last year for the first nine months of the       
financial year. Soft drinks volumes grew 5% in the quarter on an organic basis  
and were 3% higher for the first nine months. Continued improvement in economic 
conditions in many of our emerging markets assisted our volume performance. For 
the quarter, on an organic constant currency basis, group revenue grew by 6% and
group revenue per hectolitre was up 3%. We have benefited from lower costs of   
certain raw materials whilst continuing selectively to increase investment in   
brands and operations. The group`s financial performance in the quarter was in  
line with our expectations.                                                     
In Latin America, lager volumes were down by 1% on an organic basis in the      
quarter. Lager volumes in Colombia declined by 5% as they continued to be       
affected by the emergency sales tax levied specifically on the beer category in 
February 2010. Heavy rain and flooding throughout the quarter in Colombia caused
large scale damage to housing and infrastructure, impacting consumer demand and 
product availability, and culminated in a national state of emergency in        
December. In Peru, lager volumes were up 8%, as our commercial initiatives were 
supported by good economic growth. Ecuador`s lager volumes were 3% lower than   
the prior year, impacted by government restrictions on alcohol sales implemented
in June and a court injunction which affected trading for two weeks in December.
Soft drinks volumes were down 3% in the region, with the decline mostly in      
Honduras and El Salvador, where weak economic conditions continued to prevail.  
In Europe, third quarter lager volumes were in line with the prior year.        
Poland`s volumes were level in a market where volumes are beginning to          
stabilise, although downtrading continued. Volumes in Russia fell 7% against a  
comparative quarter which grew 34%, reflecting a significant trade buy-in ahead 
of a substantial excise increase at the beginning of 2010. In Romania, lager    
volumes were level in a declining market. In the Czech Republic, domestic       
volumes were down 7%, and were affected by the continuing weakness in consumer  
spending, which particularly impacted the on-premise channel. The region`s      
volume performance benefited from continuing strong growth in the United Kingdom
as well as significantly higher volumes in the Ukraine where improving economic 
conditions along with recently introduced premium brands boosted growth.        
MillerCoors domestic sales to retailers (`STRs`) in the quarter were down 2.5%  
against the prior year, in an industry and economic environment which remain    
testing.  Premium light brand volumes fell by less than 1%, with a low single   
digit decline for Miller Lite but growth in Coors Light. Below premium volumes  
were down mid single-digits. The Tenth and Blake crafts and imports division saw
double-digit growth, led by the ongoing strength of Blue Moon (up 25%). Domestic
sales to wholesalers (`STWs`) declined 2.2% in the same period.                 
In Africa lager volumes for the quarter grew 12% on an organic basis. Excluding 
our share of Zimbabwe`s volumes, lager volume growth in Africa would have been  
8%. Our investment in capacity and our expanding brand portfolios across the    
region continued to deliver robust growth. In Tanzania volumes were 10% ahead of
the prior year reflecting growth in the south, assisted by the new Mbeya brewery
and growth in the local premium segment. In Uganda volumes were also 10% higher 
aided by capacity expansion in the prior year and our wider brand portfolio. In 
Zambia, favourable economic conditions and a price reduction, following a drop  
in excise rates earlier in the year, helped lift volumes by 38%. Lager volume   
growth in Mozambique moderated in the third quarter as we cycled the            
commissioning of the brewery in the north of the country. Angola continued to   
deliver strong lager volume growth assisted by the new Luanda brewery. Our      
associate Castel delivered lager volume growth of 4%. Soft drinks volumes for   
the quarter grew by 10% (5% growth excluding Zimbabwe) on an organic basis.     
Lager volumes in Asia were up 12% on an organic basis during the third quarter  
of the year. Volumes in China grew strongly by 16%, supported by continued      
marketing investment, and the cycling of weaker comparatives which were impacted
by unduly cold weather and heavy snow. In India volumes were lower than the     
prior year with significant regulatory issues continuing to constrain volumes in
the key state of Andhra Pradesh. Volume growth remained solid elsewhere in      
India.                                                                          
In South Africa lager volumes continued to grow in the third quarter, up 3%.    
Growth was driven by ongoing momentum from our core power brand portfolio,      
particularly Castle Lite and Castle Lager. We continued to focus on enhanced    
retail service and execution as well as brand building while making targeted    
market investments. Soft drinks volumes increased 9% during the quarter assisted
by particularly warm and comparatively dry weather in October and November, as  
well as the ongoing implementation of our new soft drinks growth strategy.      
In November 2010, SABMiller acquired Cerveceria Argentina S.A. Isenbeck ("CASA  
Isenbeck"), the third largest brewer in Argentina, from the Warsteiner Group.   
CASA Isenbeck`s principal brands are Isenbeck and Warsteiner, with total sales  
volumes in 2009 of approximately 600,000hl.                                     
At the end of December 2010, Barry Smith, President, SABMiller Latin America,   
retired after 26 years service in a number of senior positions in the group, and
in his place, Karl Lippert, previously President of Bavaria S.A. in Colombia,   
was appointed as President, SABMiller Latin America, based in Bogota, and joined
the SABMiller plc Group Executive Committee.                                    
Also at the end of December 2010, Liz Doherty stepped down as a non-executive   
director of SABMiller, in consequence of her appointment as Chief Financial     
Officer (designate) of Reckitt Benckiser Group plc with effect from 1 January   
2011.                                                                           
ENDS                                                                            
Notes to editors                                                                
SABMiller plc is one of the world`s largest brewers with brewing interests and  
distribution agreements across six continents. The group`s wide portfolio of    
brands includes premium international beers such as Pilsner Urquell, Peroni     
Nastro Azzurro, Miller Genuine Draft and Grolsch, as well as leading local      
brands such as Aguila, Castle, Miller Lite, Snow and Tyskie.  SABMiller is also 
one of the world`s largest bottlers of Coca-Cola products.                      
In the year ended 31 March 2010, the group reported US$3,803 million adjusted   
pre-tax profit and group revenue of US$26,350 million. SABMiller plc is listed  
on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges.                                 
This announcement is available on the company website: www.sabmiller.com        
High resolution images are available for the media to view and download free of 
charge from                                                                     
www.sabmiller.com/imagelibrary                                                  
Broadcast footage is available in internet or SD/HD quality for download free of
charge from www.sabmiller.com/broadcastfootage                                  
Enquiries                                                                       
SABMiller plc                                                                   
t: +44 20 7659 0100                                                             
Sue Clark                                                                       
Director Corporate Affairs                                                      
SABMiller plc                                                                   
t: +44 20 7659 0184                                                             
Gary Leibowitz                                                                  
Senior VP, Investor Relations                                                   
SABMiller plc                                                                   
t: +44 20 7659 0174                                                             
Nigel Fairbrass                                                                 
Head of Media Relations                                                         
SABMiller plc                                                                   
t: +44 7799 894265                                                              
This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the          
solicitation of an offer to buy or acquire securities of SABMiller plc (the     
"Company") or any of its affiliates in any jurisdiction or an inducement to     
enter into investment activity.                                                 
This announcement includes "forward-looking statements". These statements may   
contain the words "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "expect" and   
words of similar meaning. All statements other than statements of historical    
facts included in this announcement, including, without limitation, those       
regarding the Company`s financial position, business strategy, plans and        
objectives of management for future operations (including development plans and 
objectives relating to the Company`s products and services) are forward-looking 
statements. These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks,   
uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results,  
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from      
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward
looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on numerous      
assumptions regarding the Company`s present and future business strategies and  
the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. These forward- 
looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement. The Company  
expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate any updates or 
revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this announcement to   
reflect any change in the Company`s expectations with regard thereto or any     
change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is    
based. Any information contained in this announcement on the price at which the 
Company`s securities have been bought or sold in the past, or on the yield on   
such securities, should not be relied upon as a guide to future performance.    
Date: 18/01/2011 09:00:01 Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
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