The company, partly owned by Dutch brewer Heineken NV, has been grappling with elevated costs due to rising raw material prices, including glass and extra neutral alcohol (ENA), a primary raw material for alcoholic beverages, which have incrementally risen each quarter.

The Kingfisher beer maker reported a standalone profit of 848.5 million rupees (nearly $10 million) for the quarter ended Dec. 31, compared with a loss of 21.4 million rupees a year earlier.

Revenue from operations rose 12.3% to 41.53 billion rupees.

However, total expenses also grew at a similar pace to 40.61 billion rupees, dragged by a 14% rise in raw material costs.

United Breweries' revenue growth has also been decelerating, dropping from 96% in June 2022, when beer sales surged during the summer months, to 14.1% in September 2023, as consumers reduced spending amid persistent inflation.

Profit has declined in the last three quarters since swinging to a loss in the December quarter of fiscal 2023.

Meanwhile, rivals Radico Khaitan, known for 'Magic Moments' vodka, and 'Smirnoff' vodka maker United Spirits reported an increase in third-quarter profits, both benefitting from strong sales of their premium liquor brands.

($1 = 82.9620 Indian rupees)

(Reporting by Kashish Tandon in Bengaluru; Editing by Dhanya Ann Thoppil)