"BERLIN, Aug 5, 2008 (AFP) - The German cosmetics group Beiersdorf, maker of Nivea creams, benefitted from strong global demand in the second quarter and has coped with the rising cost of raw materials for now, it said on Tuesday, August 5th.

Nivea Make up

Group sales rose by seven percent from April to June, reaching 1.57 billion euros (2.44 billion dollars), a statement said.

Growth was especially strong in China, where the German group recently bought the C-Bons Hair Care firm, as well as in Brazil, India and Russia.

Net profit jumped by 57 percent to 148 million euros as the Hamburg-based company began to reap the fruit of a restructuring programme that focused on its supply chain.

The result of that work contributed 13 million euros to overall results, compared with a charge of 48 million in the second quarter of 2007.

Starting next year, the restructuring should no longer involve costs but provide savings estimated at 100 million euros per year, Beiersdorf said.

For now, it has managed to cope with rising prices for raw materials, but warned that it "will adapt its sales prices in line with this trend next year