RNS Number:1020K 
SABMiller PLC 
23 March 2005 
 
 
 
Ref: 07/2005 
 
 
 
 
                    SABMiller plc March Trading Update 
 
 
London and Johannesburg, 23 March 2005.  SABMiller plc today issued the 
following update on trading for the 11 months to February 2005, as the group's 
financial year nears completion. 
 
The group has recorded organic lager volume growth of over 4% for the 11 months 
to February 2005. Group financial performance remains in line with our 
expectations as communicated at the time of our interim announcement. 
 
Miller's domestic sales to retailers (STRs) were 0.9% above prior year for the 
11 months. Miller Lite sales have continued to grow, albeit at a slower rate as 
a result of cycling higher year-on-year comparables and a weak industry trading 
environment. Domestic shipments to wholesalers (STWs) were in line with STRs for 
the 11 months. 
 
In Central America, tougher market conditions and an increase in excise on beer 
in El Salvador contributed to carbonated soft drink volumes being down 7% for 
the year to date, and beer volumes down by 1%. 
 
In Europe, organic lager volume growth for the year to date was almost 5%, with 
continuing strong performance from Poland, Russia and Romania being partially 
offset by weakness in Italy, Hungary and Slovakia. 
 
The Africa and Asia business has continued to record good growth, with an 
increase in organic lager volume, on a year to date comparable basis, of almost 
10%. 
 
Beer South Africa volumes grew by 4% on a year to date comparable basis, whilst 
ABI achieved a volume growth of 7%. South African volume growth was supported by 
continuing robust consumer spending. 
 
 
 
Ends 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to Editors 
 
SABMiller plc is one of the world's largest brewers, with 2003/04 lager volumes 
in excess of 137 million hectolitres.  It has a brewing presence in over 40 
countries across four continents and a portfolio of strong brands and leading 
market shares in many of the countries in which it has brewing operations. 
Outside the USA, SABMiller plc is one of the largest bottlers of Coca-Cola 
products in the world. 
 
In the year ended 31 March 2004, the group generated US$1,391 million pre-tax 
profit from a turnover of US$12,645 million.  SABMiller plc is listed on the 
London and Johannesburg stock exchanges. 
 
 
 
Enquiries: 
 
                               SABMiller plc                            Tel: +44 20 7659 0100 
 
Sue Clark                      Director of Corporate Affairs            Tel: +44 20 7659 0191 
                                                                        Mob: +44 7850 285471 
 
Gary Leibowitz                 Vice President, Investor Relations       Tel: +44 20 7659 0119 
                                                                        Mob: +44 7717 428540 
 
Nigel Fairbrass                Head of Media Relations                  Tel: +44 20 7659 0105 
                                                                        Mob: +44 7799 894265 
 
 
 
This announcement is available on the company website, www.sabmiller.com 
 
High resolution images are available for the media to view and download free of 
charge from www.vismedia.co.uk 
 
 
 
This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell or issue or the 
solicitation of an offer to buy or acquire securities of SABMiller plc (the 
"Company") or any of its affiliates in any jurisdiction or an inducement to 
enter into investment activity. 
 
This document includes "forward-looking statements".  These statements may 
contain the words "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "estimate", "expect" and 
words of similar meaning.  All statements other than statements of historical 
facts included in this announcement, including, without limitation, those 
regarding the Company's financial position, business strategy, plans and 
objectives of management for future operations (including development plans and 
objectives relating to the Company's products and services) are forward-looking 
statements.  These forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, 
uncertainties and other important factors that could cause the actual results, 
performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from 
future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such 
forward-looking statements.  These forward-looking statements are based on 
numerous assumptions regarding the Company's present and future business 
strategies and the environment in which the Company will operate in the future. 
These forward-looking statements speak only as at the date of this announcement. 
The Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to disseminate 
any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained in this 
announcement to reflect any change in the Company's expectations with regard 
thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such 
statement is based. 
 
Any information contained in this announcement on the price at which the 
Company's securities have been bought or sold in the past, or on the yield on 
such securities, should not be relied upon as a guide to future performance. 
 
 
 
                      This information is provided by RNS 
            The company news service from the London Stock Exchange 
END 
 
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