Unilever reported a weaker-than-expected 2.1 per cent rise in third-quarter sales on Thursday as a slowdown in emerging markets continued to crimp performance.

Analysts on average were expecting the maker of Dove soap and Lipton tea to report third-quarter sales growth of 3.7 per cent, according to a company-compiled consensus.

Sales volume, measuring the amount of products sold, rose only 0.3 per cent, while analysts expected growth of 1.8 per cent.

"Macro-economic conditions continued to put pressure on consumers," said Unilever chief executive Paul Polman in a statement.

Still, he said the company was confident it will achieve “another year of profitable volume growth ahead of our markets, steady and sustainable core operating margin improvement and strong cash flow”.