Coca-Cola sales in China up 22 percent last year

Coca-Cola Co., the world's largest beverage maker, said in its annual financial report that its sales in China market surged 22 percent in 2005 from a year earlier.

Besides China, Coca-Cola also realized double-digit growth in sales last year in the emerging markets of Russia and the Middle East, according to the financial report.

Li Xiaojun, vice president of Coca-Cola's China company, said the operation of several new plants in China accounted mainly for Coca-Cola's surging sales in China last year.

In addition, the market for non-carbonated soft drinks also expanded fast in China last year, with Coca-Cola's sales in the sector up 64 percent, said Li.

According to Li, the global profit of Coca-Cola in 2005 amounted to 4.87 billion U.S. dollars, compared with 4.85 billion dollars in 2004. But its sales value increased 6 percent to 23.1 billion dollars in 2005.

Source: Xinhua