Brazil: Ambev�s Q2 profit, sales volume increase

Ambev SA said on July 28 its profit increased in the second quarter, as sales volumes rose with more people drinking outside the home, especially in Brazil.

The Sao Paulo-based beer brewer's net income increased to 3.1 billion reais, equivalent to $591 million, from BRL2.9 billion a year earlier. Net revenue reached BRL18 billion from BRL15.7 billion, and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization rose to BRL5.5 billion from BRL5.3 billion.

The volume of sales rose to 42.2 million hectolitres, a record for the second quarter, from 39.8 million a year earlier, Ambev said.

Revenue rose at a faster pace than sales volumes as the company continued to boost sales of premium products, though the cost of goods sold also rose quickly because of higher commodities prices, the company said.

Ambev is controlled by Anheuser-Busch InBev SA, the world's biggest beer producer, and brews and markets brands including Budweiser, Brahma and Corona. Brazil is Ambev's biggest market, but the company also operates in other countries in the Americas including Canada, Argentina and Chile.