Unilever has reported a 6 per cent drop in net profit to 1.358 billion guilders (€617.2 million) in the first quarter of 1999, down from 1.439 billion guilders (€654.1 million) from the corresponding period in 1998.

The Anglo-Dutch conglomerate's operating profit dropped 5 per cent to 2.051 billion guilders for the first quarter of 1999 from 2.153 billion guilders last year, but before exceptional items operating profit was stable at 2.121 billion guilders for the quarter.