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SABMiller – the world's biggest brewer, and one of the biggest Coca-Cola bottlers outside the US – said yesterday (16 April) that group sales grew about 16% in the year to 31 March. In a trading update issued ahead of its formal results on 15 May, the company said that growth was driven by price increases and mix improvements, which had offset higher input costs.

“The underlying performance of the group has been good, and was at the upper end of management’s expectations,” SABMiller’s statement continued. “The results have benefited from successful revenue management and enhanced productivity, as well as favourable exchange rates in some of our major countries.”

Lager volumes in Latin America were up 5% over the year, although growth was “subdued” in the fourth quarter, following mid-teen growth in the comparative period of 2007.

Europe recorded full-year organic growth of 8%, with “satisfactory” gains in the last quarter despite a particularly strong performance in Q4 the previous year, which benefited from good weather. Pricing and mix improvements boosted revenue. * Harsh weather in China*

In North America, Miller’s domestic sales to retailers (STRs) were 3.1% up after adjustment for one extra trading day in the current year, and were up 0.7% on an organic adjusted basis.

Africa and Asia delivered organic growth of 15% in lager volumes for the year. Organic growth in China was depressed by harsh weather conditions in the fourth quarter, and significant price increases, as well as comparison with more than 30% growth in the same period of 2007. Organic growth in India was almost 20% for the year.

Lager volumes across Africa (excluding Zimbabwe) were up 6% – although South Africa Beverages’ volumes were flat after the loss of a licensed premium brand.

Sales by ABI, South Africa’s biggest producer of soft drinks, were hit by CO2 shortages in the last quarter. However, ABI’s volume of Coca-Cola and other fizzy and still drinks was still 4% up over the full year.