Russia: The net profit of Russian brewery, OAO Yarpivo, in 2003 will presumably increase for 13 % in comparison with 2002 and will make US$47,4 million, the press-service of the company informed. Yarpivo reached net profit of US$42 million in 2002. In 2003 the sales volume of beer will grow on 14 % - up to 53o million litres, a commodity output will be made on 29 % more than in 2002, on 207 million dollars.

Yarpivo is owned by the Baltic Beverage Holdings and has around 7.2% of the Russian market, the company said, compared with an estimate of 6.2% a year ago. Baltic Beverage Holdings is owned by Scottish & Newcastle and Carlsberg.

23 December, 2003