º£½ÇÊÓÆµ

Oops.

Our website is temporarily unavailable in your location.

We are working hard to get it back online.

PRIVACY
Manufacturing

Unilever reports 'flat underlying sales' - but 'positive' impact of Covid-19 household stocking

The Covid-19 crisis has had a big impact on the firm

Unilever's Port Sunlight production plant. Picture: ANDREW TEEBAY

Household products giant Unilever has reported a first quarter of "flat underlying sales" - despite seeing the "positive" impact of people stocking up on products due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

The firm, which makes goods including personal care and foods, said underlying sales growth in developing markets was 2.8%, while emerging markets declined 1.8%.

It added that the quarterly dividend maintained at €0.4104 per share.

The firm said in all of its markets outside China, the impact of the coronavirus outbreak began to hit in March.

The statement said: "The Chinese market slowed significantly during the lock-down period, which began in January, whilst Europe and North America, saw a positive impact of household stocking in March.

"The Indian market had slowed even before the strict lock-down began at the end of March.

"Conditions in Latin America remain challenging, as they were before Covid-19, although we have seen some household stocking at the end of the quarter."