Santiago, July 30 - Chile's Embotelladora Andina said on Monday its net profit increased 9.9 percent in the first half of 2007 as it sold more soft drinks at higher prices, especially in Brazil.
Andina, which bottles and distributes Coca-Cola products in Chile, Brazil and Argentina, said profit for the January-June period was 35.014 billion pesos ($66.4 million) versus 31.847 billion pesos in the same period last year.
"This first quarter we had good results because of a rise in volume, a rise in real prices and a positive macroeconomic environment," the company said in a statement.
The company's first-half sales rose 12.8 percent to 296.863 billion pesos from 263.066 billion pesos in the same period last year.
"We are satisfied that at the close of first half of this year, we continue to grow in terms of volume and cash generation, this time mostly driven by our Brazil operation," said Andina executive vice-president Jaime Garcia.
Embotelladora Andina made a net profit of $140 million in 2006, up 30 percent from the previous year.