NEW DELHI: FMCG major Hindustan Unilever on Friday reported 12 per cent year-on-year rise in standalone profit at Rs 1,616 crore for the December quarter compared with Rs 1,444 crore in the same quarter last year.Analysts in an ET NOW poll had projected the number at Rs 1,643 crore.Sales for the quarter rose 3.62 per cent to Rs 9,696 crore from Rs 9,357 crore in the year-ago period.Volume growth for the quarter came in at 5 per cent, the company said in a regulatory filing.
Ebitda rose 19 per cent to Rs 2,445 crore, which was higher than analysts estimate of Rs 2,259 crore.
In the short term, demand outlook and market growth continues to be challenging, the company said in a filing.Chairman and MD Sanjiv Mehta said that the environment reflected a sharp slowdown in rural and discretionary spend.