SABMiller Plc's South African unit said that it is disappointed after steelmaker ArcelorMittal South Africa raised prices of tin plate.

South African Breweries Limited said that "This will result in downstream suppliers in the South African packaging industry increasing prices by between 35% and 55%."

It may be noted that ArcelorMittal plans to increase tin plate prices for food products by 69% and beverage products by 79% next month. Price changes take place annually and are based on domestic prices in a range of countries including the US, Germany and China.

International tin plate prices rose by 22% in 2008 and the rand lost about 30% against the dollar.

(Sourced from www.bloomberg.net)