EAST Kilbride-based Burn Stewart Distillers has delivered financial results in line with expectations after posting profits of £3.2 million for the six months ended June 30.

The half-year results were filed at Companies House to bring the distiller's financial period in line with its parent company, Distell Group.

Its performance for the period compared with pre-tax profits of £4.9 million for the year ended December 31, 2013.

The update from the firm, which South African drinks giant Distell acquired for £150 million in April 2013, shows that it generated turnover of £31.1 million in the six-month period.

The accounts state that turnover for the six-month period, which did not cover the traditionally busy pre-Christmas period, compared with sales of £59.1 million achieved for the year to December 31.

Burn Stewart, whose brands include Scottish Leader, Black Bottle and Bunnahabhain, said sales were higher than expected, and noted the performance reflected a "slight variation in the sales category mix achieved by the group during the period."

Writing in the accounts, the directors said: "The performance of the business is in line with the targets set by the directors at the start of the period.

"Given the continuation of challenging trading conditions in certain key territories, the directors are confident that the business is well placed to deliver growth over the coming period."

The Burn Stewart results come shortly after the Scotch Whisky Association reported the value of Scotch exports dropped by 11 per cent in the first six months of the year compared with the same period of 2013.

Sales were down in the US, the biggest export market for Scotch, and in Singapore, which serves as a hub for ongoing exports to countries around Asia.

The drop in Asia was partly attributed to ongoing anti-extravagance measures in China, which has hit sales of high-end spirits, including imported Scotch whisky.

Burn Stewart, which exports its brands to South Africa, Asia, Russia and the US, earned the bulk of its turnover in the European Union over the six months, at £13.6 million.

Sales to Asia Pacific amounted to £9.2 million, The Americas to £3.2 million and Africa to £2.6 million.

According to the accounts, the company employed an average of 275 staff over the period, compared with 274 for the year to December 31.

Wages and salaries came in at £4.2 million, versus £8.7 million for the whole of 2013, with directors' emoluments booked at £312,000 for the six months.

l William Grant & Sons paid its directors a total of £4.6 million in the year ended December 31, accounts newly available at Companies Show. Directors remuneration was up on the £4.3 million paid the year before. The Glenfiddich distiller employed an average of 1819 staff over the year, up from 1696.