Amsterdam (AFP) – Dutch brewer Heineken sold less beer in the first half of the year, it announced Monday, as a slump in sales in Europe and the US failed to offset better performance in Asia. Global beer volumes for the world’s second-biggest brewer after AB InBev came in at 116.4 million hectolitres, compared with 118.2 million in the first six months of 2024. This was also below the 117.0 million hectolitres expected in analysts’ forecasts published by the company.
“Notable growth in Vietnam, India, and Mexico was more than offset by declines in Brazil, the US, and parts of Europe,” said the firm in a statement. Heineken stock opened around one percent lower on the Amsterdam market, which was up overall by about the same amount. The company, whose brands include Amstel, Kingfisher, and Savanna cider, maintained its full-year outlook for a gain of between four and eight percent in operating profits, its preferred metric.
Heineken Chief Executive Officer Dolf van den Brink welcomed the deal clinched late Sunday between the EU and the United States that averted a possible trade war. “I think it’s good that the uncertainty ends that. Further escalation has been avoided. We have now clarity going forward for Heineken,” he told reporters. He said the impact of the tariffs — a flat 15-percent rate for most EU goods into the US — had already been baked into their profit forecasts. Virtually all of its products — 95 percent said the CEO — were manufactured and sold in local markets, so tariffs do not apply. “As such, the impact for us is manageable,” he said.
Heineken said total net sales were 14.2 billion euros in the first half year, compared with 14.8 billion euros in the first six months of 2024. This was roughly in line with expectations. The firm said this represented “organic growth” — stripping out the impact of currency fluctuations — of 2.1 percent. Operating profits excluding exceptional items and amortisation — the firm’s preferred measure — came in at 2.0 billion euros, fractionally above expectations.
© 2024 AFP
