Rexam Glass, with factories also in Germany, the Netherlands and Poland, saw improved sales and underlying profits in the six months to June 30 on the back of improved profit margins. Northern Europe performed strongly, particularly Germany, which benefited from increased demand for refillable containers as new laws cut demand for cans as drinks containers. Volumes in the UK and Poland fell due to furnace rebuilds. Its acquisitions in Germany, Nienburger and Luner, have generated synergies ahead of expectations. Rexam plans to rationalise its production base in Germany. Rexam company as a whole, which produces plastic, flexible and other types of packaging as well as glass, saw sales fall 5% to £1591M, but operating profits rose 5% to £132M. Pre-tax figures changed from a loss of £169M in the first 6 months of 2002 to a profit of £71M this time.
