Sales up by a quarter at Ball Corporation

Double-digit beverage can volume increases in Brazil and China contributed to a dramatic 24.5 percent rise in packaging sales for US-based Ball Corporation in the first quarter of 2011.

Sales, including Ball’s aerospace business, increased 26.3 percent to US$2.01bn, with sales in beverage, food and household products all up compared with the first quarter of 2010, at $1.82bn. Net profits were up 15 percent to $91.3m.