Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur: Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Berhad aims to remain beer market leader after posting its net profit rose 7% year-on-year to RM76.82 million during first nine months of the year to September 30, 2004 on higher sales volume. The company has registered the group pre-tax profit of RM98.808 million (US$26 million) for the nine months, up 8 % from the same period a year ago. The profit rise is attributed to higher sales volume and a 10.7 % on-year rise in revenue to RM777.413 million.

During the third quarter to 30 September, group revenue climbed 12.0 % on-year to RM262.574 million while pre-tax profit edged up 4.8 per cent to RM36.907 million.

Carlsberg said the group is committed to maintain its market leadership in the beer segment and will continue with efforts to increase its market share in the stout segment. But it expects the highly aggressive competitive beer and stout market environment to continue.

It said the consumer price increase following the government's recent 26.3 per cent excise duty increase on locally-manufactured beer products will have an adverse impact on the consumption of beer and stout, according to Asia Pulse.

Carlsberg said the increase was not consistent with the increase in duties for imported beer products of 12.2 % and hard liquor of between 2.0 per cent to 6.5 per cent. "The switching from consumption of soft alcohol such as beer products to hard liquor coupled with the increasing presence of smuggled and low priced beer products will also affect the development of the local duty paid beer and stout market," it said.