Anglo-Dutch soap to detergents group Unilever booked a 10% rise in sales last year. The increase, driven largely by currency effects, took total sales to €53bn.

‘Our 2015 results are set against the context of challenging market conditions and fragile consumer demand,’ chief executive Paul Polman said in a statement.

‘Many emerging markets continued to be weak, particularly those dependent on oil and other commodity exports and those where currency devaluation is pushing up the cost of living.’

Profit

Developing markets such as China, Russia, Brazil and India account for some 60% of group sales.

Net profit was down 5% at €5.3bn, due to the knock-on effect of divestments made in 2014.

Polman said the company is ‘preparing ourselves for tougher market conditions and high volatility in 2016’.