AmBev raises profit, but sales fall in Brazil

Ambev's net profit was R $2.515 billion in the first quarter of this year, 14.4% higher result recorded in the same period to 2017. Already the company's net revenue reached R $11.640 bilhções between January and March, which represents a growth of 3.5% compared with the same months last year. In Brazil, Ambev closed the first quarter with Ebitda (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of R $2.59 billion, 5.3% more than in the same period of the previous year. Net revenue, however, retreated 1.8 percent in the first three months of the year. During this period, sales of Ambev in the Brazilian market present 11% reduction. The marketing of beers of Ambev in Brazil fell 8.1 percent in the first quarter of this year, compared with the same months of 2017. The company attributed this drop in volume to a weak industry, which has shrunk more than single digits as a result of a Carnival sooner and unfavorable climate. According to the company, the high comparison base of 2017 also messed up the result. In value, the drop in sales of beer was 1%, less pronounced because of the price adjustment in the second half of 2017. Already the sale of soft drinks and other non-alcoholic drinks fell 19.4% of Ambev in volume in Brazil. According to the company, the following industry under impact of consumption retracted.