Ilesha-based International Breweries Plc said its losses in the first-half of the year (Apr – Sept) narrowed to N52m, from ₦1.9bn in the previous year.

The brewer blamed the loss on unrealized foreign exchange loss which skyrocketed 894% in the six months to ₦983m ($2.7 million). The maker of Trophy lager said it had a particularly difficult second quarter as much of the FX loss came from this period, rising 4,238% to ₦945m ($2.6 million). The net loss in Q2 was even far much greater, at ₦1.2bn, from ₦216m.