Chile's leading brewer CCU announced on July 7 a 7.8 % rise in second-quarter sales by volume compared with the same period in 2002, according to Reuters. CCU, controlled by Chile's Quinenco and Heineken NV of the Netherlands, sold 2.096 million hectoliters in the quarter, of which 1.712 million hl were produced in Chile and 383,780 in Argentina, the company said in a statement. It noted the strongest volume increases in its Argentine beer volumes and in nectars in Chile.

In the first six months of 2003, CCU's sales volume also grew 7.8 % to 5.165 million hectoliters. The company will release its second-quarter financial results by the second week of August. CCU also produces wine, soft drinks, nectar fruit juices and mineral water and recently began marketing pisco, Chile's national liquor.

08 July, 2003