Converting

Crown Holdings has posted an increase in half-yearly sales across all its European operations although profits have dipped in two divisions.

The metal packaging group's European beverage business performed particularly well in the six months to 30 June, with sales rising 18.5% to £333m ($682m).

In its interim trading statement, published yesterday (17 July), the US-based company also said that sales rose 6% to £446m in its European food business, and by 14% to £107m in its European specialty packaging operations.

However, profits fell in Crown's European food and specialty packaging arms, by 9% and 28.5%, respectively, compared with last year, although the beverage arm posted a 34% increase to £43m.

Crown's overall sales for the first six months of 2007 rose 12% to £1.8bn, while net profits were up 73% to £51m.