Dutch brewer Heineken NV said that profits increased by 13.2% in 2019 to €2.2bn from €1.9bn in the previous year, helped by robust pricing and focus on premiumisation.

Net revenue in the period was up 6.6% to €23.9bn, with total beer volume growth of 3.1%, driven by South Africa, Russia, Mozambique, Nigeria and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).

The firm said that brand Heineken grew by 8.3%, with more than 40 countries posting double-digits growth. Brazil is now the largest market for Heineken® globally. It added that its zero alcohol Heineken® 0.0 continues to wax strong and is now sold in 57 markets from 38 in 2018.

The brewing company said that international brands grew by high single-digits, driven by the double digit growth of Tiger and Amstel in Vietnam, Cambodia and Malaysia, and Amstel strong performance in Brazil, Mexico, Russia, South Africa and the UK.

The company added that beer volumes in Nigerian increased by low-single digit, with premium brands growing double-digit, led by Heineken® and Tiger.

South Africa saw double-digit beer volume growth, helped by strong performance of brand Heineken, Amstel and Strongbow despite deteriorating economic conditions. In Ethiopia, volumes grew slightly, though held back by a price increase from earlier in the year and continued social unrest. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Egypt both performed well with single-digit and double-digit beer volume increases respectively.

Looking forward to 2020, the company said it expects operating profit (beia) to grow by mid-single digit on an organic basis, barring major negative macro-economic and political developments.