COPENHAGEN (Reuters) - Brewer Carlsberg reported third-quarter sales in line with expectations on Thursday and said it maintained its full-year earnings forecast despite lower beer volumes in China, France and the UK.

Carlsberg said it still expects full-year organic operating profit growth at between 4% and 6%. The company lifted its full-year guidance in August.

The Danish company said sales between July and September rose 1% to 20.5 billion Danish crowns ($2.98 billion), compared with 20.7 billion expected on average by analysts in a poll gathered by the company.

"It was a tough quarter, impacted by a challenging consumer environment and weather," CEO Jacob Aarup-Andersen said in a statement.

"Nevertheless, we delivered volume and revenue growth in the majority of our markets, although lower volumes in China, France and the UK impacted overall Group performance."

Carlsberg, the maker of brands such as Kronenbourg 1664, Tuborg and Somersby, is the world's third-largest brewer behind Anheuser-Busch Inbev and Heineken.