Unilever highlights positive trends in Q3 2013 fiscal report

Unilever has published its financial results for the third quarter of 2013, highlighting a nine-month turnover total of 38 billion euros (23.7 billion pounds).

Although this was down by two percent on the corresponding period last year, the company observed that it has achieved underlying sales and volume growth, with strong results from emerging markets counterbalanced by negative currency trends and ongoing weakness on established regions.

Its personal care business has been its strongest performer so far in 2013, thanks to its wide portfolio of successful brands, while the company continues to make efforts to expand its product range with innovative new offerings.

The firm expects to report a sequential quarterly improvement in the fourth and final quarter of the year.

Unilever chief executive officer Paul Polman said: "We remain focused on achieving another year of profitable volume growth ahead of our markets, steady and sustainable core operating margin improvement and strong cash flow."

The company has also made strong progress on its environmental and corporate social responsibility goals in recent months, announcing earlier this year that it has successfully reduced its carbon dioxide emissions from manufacturing and logistics by one million tonnes since 2008.