Washington (Platts)--31Jan2013/225 pm EST/1925 GMT

US aluminum can maker Ball on Thursday reported fourth-quarter 2012 net income of $60.6 million, or 39 cents/share, down from earnings of $77.5 million, or 47 cents/share, in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Sales were $2.11 billion in Q4, compared with sales of $2.05 billion in the fourth quarter of 2011.

Excluding plant closure and relocation costs along with pension plan liabilities, Ball's Q4 EPS rose 33% to 64 cents from 48 cents in 2011. Without the headwinds the company faces, its earnings were $98.8 million, up 27% from $78.1 million in the same time period a year ago.

The company also reported net earnings of $403.5 million on sales of $8.7 billion for the full year of 2012, compared with $444 million on sales of $8.6 billion during the same time a year ago.

Ball's metal beverage packaging, Americas and Asia segment, saw increases demand for specialty packaging in North America and Brazil. During Q4 the company closed its Columbus, Ohio, 12-ounce beverage can plant to better align supply with demand and expand specialty packaging capabilities across North America. At the same time, it announced plans for a second production line it its Alagoinhas beverage can plant in Brazil to account for growing demand in the region.

Fourth quarter earnings were negatively affected in the European beverage packaging segment by foreign currency translations. The company reported soft demand for beer in the quarter, but said it was offset by strong demand for specialty containers and extruded aluminum aerosol packaging.

Ball's metal food and household products packaging, Americas segment, saw flat results on the quarter because of improved manufacturing efficiencies which offset the negative impact of a disappointing 2012 vegetable harvest, the company said. Ball also completed in the fourth quarter the acquisition of an extruded aluminum manufacturing facility in Mexico.

"Our company's strong 2012 results continued our progress ... and while we face pricing headwinds in Asia and the previously announced 12-ounce volume loss in North America, we remain focused on striving to reach our long-term goal of 10 to 15 percent diluted earnings per share growth," President and CEO John Hayes said in a statement.

Ball is a supplier of packaging for beverage, food and household products. It also produces items for the aerospace industry and other technologies and services, primarily for the US government.

--Sarah E. Baltic, sarah_baltic@platts.com --Edited by Carla Bass, carla_bass@platts.com