Unilever’s global fourth quarter and full-year results for 2011 reflect a robust performance despite the continuing tough economic environment, the company said in its fourth quarter 2011 report. According to the report, the company grew ahead of its markets, gained share overall and maintained a good balance of price and volume growth. “Turnover was EUR11.6bn in the fourth quarter and EUR46.5bn for the full-year. Underlying sales growth was 6.6 per cent in the fourth quarter and 6.5 per cent for the full-year. Underlying volume growth was 0.1 per cent in the fourth quarter and 1.6 per cent for the full-year. Underlying operating margin was down by 10 basis points for the full-year with a reduction in overheads offsetting much of the pressure on gross margins from higher commodity costs. It added that core earnings per share were up by four per cent at EUR1.41 at year-end with a free cash flow of EUR3.1bn. Advertising and promotions spend was up EUR150mn to EUR6.2bn. Commenting on the company’s performance, the Chief Executive Officer, Paul Polman said: “In 2011 we have made significant progress in the transformation of Unilever to a sustainable growth company despite difficult markets and an unusual number of significant external challenges. “Our overall performance was driven by our growth in emerging markets and the Home Care and Personal Care categories. We invested heavily in our brands and exit the year with positive momentum. In Foods, whilst price increases have impacted volumes, we have grown in line with our markets and gained share in many of our key businesses.” Speaking on performance of the company in different region, it stated that the Asian/African region continued to grow ahead of the markets in the fourth quarter and achieved positive volume growth despite higher prices, challenging macro-economic conditions in many countries and sustained high levels of competitive activity. “We saw strong double digit-growth in South Africa, Indonesia and Vietnam with continuing robust growth from India, Turkey and China. Japan continued to decline after the earthquake in the first half. Central and Eastern Europe growth, whilst better than the start of the year, remains muted”, it added.