April 17: Profits for world-leading canmaker Crown in the first quarter exceeded analysts’ expectations by 20 percent.
With global sales up 8.8 percent to US$1.86 billion primarily due to the pass through of higher raw materials costs and currency translations, profit before tax grew by 19.1 percent to $256 million.
Almost three-quarters of sales were generated outside the US with two new beverage can plants in south east Asia contributing for the first time.
