Chile: Compania Cervecerias Unidas (CCU), Chile's largest brewer, announced on July 7 a 3.4% increase in second quarter sales volumes and a 4.4% increase in first half volumes. Growth was seen in the quarter in both Chile, up 2.9% to 1.755 million hl, and Argentina where volumes rose 6.4%, compared to the same period last year.

First-half overall volumes rose 3.0% in Chile and 11.3% in Argentina. CCU's first-quarter net profit fell by half from last year due to an extraordinary gain in 2003 and as financial items offset robust sales growth.

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