BEIERSDORF GOOD GROWTH FORECAST

North German pharmaceutical and medical cosmetics group Beiersdorf AG, which markets the successful Nivea skin-care range, is forecasting an 8% rise in sales for 1994 to exceed the 5 billion Deutschemarks ($3.04 billion) level for the first time. Profits are set to rise faster than sales, according to chairman Hans-Otto Woebcke.

Beiersdorf's worldwide sales increased by 11% in the first five months of this year, and group profits outpaced sales growth. German sales improved 6.5%, while foreign turnover went up 15% in the five-month period. Favorable exchange rate factors added one percentage point to foreign sales, the company said.

All three group divisions contributed to the improvement, but medical cosmetics posted the strongest growth, with sales up 16%. The medical division's results were affected by the German health reform, though sales rose 6% overall.