Anglo-Dutch food and detergent concern Unilever reports a substantial growth in turnover for the first quarter of 2012 with an increase of 11.9 percent to 12.1 billion euros.

Underlying turnover growth was 8.4 percent. Acquisitions and disinvestments made a 2.7-percent contribution to turnover. Volume rose by 3.5 percent.

Unilever again noted a big difference in turnover growth between emerging economies (12 percent) and developed markets (4.2 percent).

CEO Paul Polman wrote in an accompanying statement that the macro-economic climate remains difficult and that the company is still experiencing the negative effects of higher raw materials prices. However, he added that Unilever is on schedule to “realise a limited improvement of the core gross profit margin.”

(gsh/imm)

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