The Brazilian-based drinks force, Companhia de Bebidas das Americas (AmBev), posted consolidated EBITDA for the second quarter of 2003 of R$550.9m, up 16.8% from the pro-forma second-quarter results from 2002.

AmBev said that net sales from its Brazilian operations rose by 14.1% to R$1.68 billion while its share of the Brazilian beer market had risen during the quarter to 70.1% in June against, 69.4% in March 2003.

The company’s Brazilian beer volumes rose by 2.5% while net revenue per hectolitre rose by 9.8% to $100.8. The company said that its overall soft drink sales volumes remained stable in the quarter compared with the second quarter of 2002.