Slackening demand for beer and soft drink cans across Europe dented first-quarter sales at Rexam, the world’s leading beverage canmaker, investors were told on Thursday.

However, an easing in decline in North American demand, combined with robust demand in South America, meant trade across its beverage can businesses held up “reasonably well” during the three months to March 31, the company’s Leslie Van de Walle, told its annual meeting.