Total volumes of the group's lager brands, which include Peroni Nastro Azzurro and Miller, were up by four per cent on an organic basis for the three-month period ending 31 December, according to the brewer's latest trading statement.

The group added that in the year to date, lager volumes rose on organic terms by nine per cent. When this growth is considered along with the increased pricing for the company's brands, SABMiller expects to now offset the impact of higher input costs for commodities experienced during the year.

Earnings over the period were also boosted by the stronger performance of the Colombian peso, South African rand and key European currencies compared to the US dollar, the group added.

Excluding the impact from acquisitions made during the last twelve months, the company posted strong growth for its brands across the globe.

Miller brands boost US earnings

In the US, the group's Miller brand performed above the same period the previous year, with domestic sales to retailers up by 1.5 per cent when adjusted for the number of trading days. The Miller Lite brand also increased domestic sales to retailers by 1.9 per cent for the quarter and two per cent on a year-to-date basis.

The division also increased net revenue per barrel by 4.3 per cent over the quarter on the back of strong pricing and reduced promotion costs, according to SABMiller.

Latin American demand strong

In the group's Latin American operations, volumes were up by four per cent during the quarter and 6.5 per cent for the fiscal year-to-date.

Key markets in the region like Peru posted a five per cent hike in lager volumes, while the brewer's lager output in Columbia increased by two per cent despite bad weather affecting demand and distribution, according to SABMiller.

Eastern Europe leads region

European third quarter lager sales volumes were also up by four per cent for the group, due to the impact of a milder winter on drinkers and strong growth in emerging Eastern European markets, the company said.

Romania posted the most significant growth in terms of volume for the region during the three-month period, increasing by 18 per cent. Poland and Russia also underwent strong volume improvements of six per cent and seven per cent respectively. SABMiller added that domestic volumes in the Czech Republic declined by three per cent though.

In the company's Africa and Asian business lager volumes were up for both the quarter and year to date by 8 per cent and 18 per cent respectively on an organic basis.

During the quarter, price increases and slower market growth led to Chinese organic volume growth for the group's lager brands of seven per cent, while India by contrast, posted a 20 per cent rise.

Excluding Zimbabwe, SABMiller's African operations posted a five per cent volume improvement on an organic basis both for the quarter and year to date on the strength of increases in Tanzania, Botswana and Mozambique.

In its South Africa Beverages division, lager volumes declined marginally by about 0.4 per cent over the quarter, ensuring that year to date volume growth of one per cent. Supply chain difficulties for the group's new brand and packaging launches and an increasingly competitive market in the country was blamed for the decline.

The division did record a six per cent increase in soft drink volumes during the quarter though, with year to date growth measured at nine per cent, according to the company.

Acquisition mission

In looking ahead to the coming year the group reiterated measures already taken to expand its global presence, including an agreement on 21 December last year to combine the US and Puerto Rican operations of its Miller brewing Company with Molson Coors to form a new joint venture. The deal remains subject to regulatory approval.

The company is also waiting for a decision by the shareholders of Netherlands-based brewer Royal Grolsch over whether to sell its operations.