Trading Statement

Unilever PLC
20 September 2004

20th September 2004
                            UNILEVER TRADING UPDATE

   •Unilever is revising its earnings guidance reflecting a determination to
    return the business to growth. We now expect low single digit earnings per
    share growth (beia) for the full year 2004.

   •Additional support planned for Q4 behind high quality market place
    initiatives.

   •Trading in July/August below expectations:-

   •substantially lower sales of Ice Cream and Ready to Drink Tea due to very
    poor weather in Northern Europe;
   •continued weak consumer confidence coupled with retail and competitive
    issues have led to a further decline in Home and Personal Care markets in
    Western Europe;
   •in Asia competition remains intense in Laundry and Hair markets in a
    number of key countries;
   •trading across the rest of the business is broadly in line with
    expectation.

We now expect the development of leading brands in Q3 to be below that seen in
Q2.

In light of the lower sales and a weaker category mix, we expect gross margin to
decline in the third quarter compared to last year.

EPS (beia) in the third quarter is now expected to be lower than the comparable
quarter last year.

The protection of the health of our brands and a return to long term profitable
growth remain our overriding priorities. Planned brand support activities for
the rest of the year will therefore be maintained and in certain areas
reinforced.

Our simplification and cost saving activities, outlined with our Q2 announcement
are proceeding to plan.

Commenting on the revised guidance, Unilever Chairmen Antony Burgmans and Niall
FitzGerald said:

'In the light of the poor July/August and the pressure on some of our market
positions we do not consider it in the long term interest of the business to
maintain our previous (low double digit) EPS guidance for 2004. We are stepping
up our market place activity, including putting additional A&P funds behind a
number of high priority market place initiatives. Top line growth is key to long
term sustainable value creation, and here the recent performance is
unacceptable. We are determined to put this right and we are therefore moving
forward with the simplification of our operations and, most importantly,
increasing investment behind our brands.'

Antony Burgmans                                                Niall FitzGerald
                              Chairmen of Unilever

                                     -o0o-

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Contact details:
Press                                  Investor Relations
Tim Johns                              John Rothenberg
[phone]                       [phone]
Nancy L. Goldfarb                      Andrew Stephen
[phone]                        [phone]
Tom Gordijn                            Philip-de Klerk
[phone]                        [phone]

Unilever's third quarter results will be published on Wednesday 27 October.

Financial numbers are quoted in Euros at constant rates of exchange, that is
average 2003 rates.

EPS is quoted on a before exceptional items and amortisation of goodwill and
intangible assets basis (EPS (beia)).

SAFE HARBOUR STATEMENT: This announcement may contain forward-looking
statements, including 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the
United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as
'expects', 'anticipates', 'intends' or the negative of these terms and other
similar expressions of future performance or results and their negatives are
intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements are based upon current expectations and assumptions regarding
anticipated developments and other factors affecting the Group. They are not
historical facts, nor are they guarantees of future performance. Because these
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties, there are important
factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those
expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements, including, among
others, competitive pricing and activities, consumption levels, costs, the
ability to maintain and manage key customer relationships and supply chain
sources, currency values, interest rates, the ability to integrate acquisitions
and complete planned divestitures, physical risks, environmental risks, the
ability to manage regulatory, tax and legal matters and resolve pending matters
within current estimates, legislative, fiscal and regulatory developments,
political, economic and social conditions in the geographic markets where the
Group operates and new or changed priorities of the Boards. Further details of
potential risks and uncertainties affecting the Group are described in the
Group's filings with the London Stock Exchange, Euronext Amsterdam and the US
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report & Accounts on
Form 20-F. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of this
document. Except as required by any applicable law or regulation, the Group
expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any
updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to
reflect any change in the Group's expectations with regard thereto or any change
in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based.


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