Carlsberg Group has reported 47% increase in net profit to DKK3,279m ($541.4m) for the second quarter (Q2) ended 30 June 2012, compared to the net profit for the same period previous year.

Operating profit was decreased from DKK4,698m ($775.6m) in the second quarter of 2011 to DKK4,045m ($668m) during the current quarter.

The decrease in operating profit was primarily due to decline in Northern and Western Europe and Eastern Europe offset by growth in Asia.

Organic net revenue was DKK32,459m ($5.4bn), up by 1%, compared to the organic net revenue for the same period previous year.

For the first half year, the Northern and Western Europe beer market, excluding Poland, was declined by an estimated 3-4% and also declined by 5% in Q2 2012, however, the Russian beer market was up by an estimated 2% in the first six months of 2012.

Carlsberg Group CEO Jorgen Rasmussen said Carlsberg achieved positive market share growth in all three regions which shows that the recent years’ significant efforts behind its international premium brands, local power brands and within sales execution are paying off.

"It is particularly satisfactory to see a further improvement in our Russian market share which is a clear sign that our efforts initiated during last year are beginning to bear fruit," Rasmussen added.

"Sales and marketing investments were more skewed towards the first half of this year which, combined with the very bad weather in Northern & Western Europe, impacted profits for the first six months."