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Despite decline in national rum sales in both the USA and Canada, Guyana’s premier El Dorado brand garnered big profits in both nations. The rum also saw increasing sales in the Caribbean.According to Demerara Distillers Limited’s (DDL) 2014 annual report, sales of its El Dorado brand products increased last year by 24 per cent when compared to 2013.“Our El Dorado brand continues to be recognised in international markets for its premium positioning and outstanding quality,” Chairman of the board, Komal Samaroo,Roger Staubach Cowboys Jersey, said in his report.The brand experienced strong growth in both the North American and Caribbean markets.In Canada, the overall national rum market declined by 1.7%,Jaylon Smith Cowboys Jersey, the report stated. However, El Dorado products experienced a growth of 35 per cent in that very market. Similarly in the United States,Bill Bates Jersey, brands grew by 25 per cent. The US had recorded a decline of 0.8% in its overall national rum market in 2014.The Caribbean markets also experienced growth; the El Dorado brand recorded growth of 28 per cent regionally.The trend was not seen in the European markets. The company’s report showed that branded sales declined by 18 per cent in Europe, mainly in Russia and Ukraine. In these two nations,Emmitt Smith Jersey, sales declined by 58%. Instability in Ukraine and sanctions taken against Russia were cited as reasons for the decline.“The reality is that international markets have been and will most likely continue to be adversely affected by global events, over which the group [DDL] may have little or no control,Tony Romo Jersey,” Samaroo reported.Europe’s declining importation of El Dorado products is a huge contributor to the decline in international bulk rum sales. The report showed that these sales dropped by 14per cent. Meanwhile, international branded sales grew by 24 per cent.Group performanceLast year, the DDL group recorded its highest profit growth in any year. The group’s profit before taxation was $2.653B for the year compared to $2.205B in 2013. This increase of $448M represented a 20 per cent growth. Further, the group’s gross profit for the year,Sean Lee Jersey, increased by eight per cent.The group’s local companies fared better than its overseas subsidiaries. Currently,Jaylon Smith Jersey, the local subsidiaries are Demerara Shipping Company Limited, Distribution Services Limited, and Tropical Orchard Products Limited.The DDL’s report showed that Demerara Shipping Company continued to grow. The company recorded $217M in profit before tax as compared to $185M in 2013.Tropical Orchard Products also saw an increase in its profit before tax; in 2014, $22.5M was recorded compared to $20.9M in the previous year.Distribution Services Limited was the only local subsidiary to record a decrease in its profit before tax. Samaroo, in his report,Kevin White Jersey, said that the company was “seriously affected” by parallel importation of several of the brands it represents. The profit before tax last year was $313M, compared to $455M in 2013.DDL’s overseas subsidiaries all recorded reduced profits in 2014,Jim McMahon Bears Jersey, the report showed. In St. Kitts, $47.5M in profit before tax was recorded. This figure was lower than the previous year’s profit of $54.4M.Demerara Distillers USA saw a huge slump in its profit before tax from $36M in 2013 to $2.4M in 2014 while Demerara Distillers Europe was the only subsidiary to record a loss in 2014. In 2014, a loss of $17M was recorded versus a profit of $122M in 2013.Despite some of its shortcomings, Samaroo expressed pleasure at the year’s progress for DDL. He said too, that Guyana as a whole appeared to have led regional economics with a projected growth in the region of five per cent.Samaroo became the head of DDL last year after taking the reins from long-standing Chairman Yesu Persaud.