Seaboard sees volume increase

Seaboard sees volume increase    Seaboard Corp. said its marine division, which operates vessels between the United States and ports in the Caribbean Basin, Central and South America, had an operating profit of $11 million in its quarter ending July 3, compared to an operating loss of $2.3 million in the same 2009 period.
   Marine revenue in the second quarter of its fiscal year was $215.6 million compared to $175.7 million in the year-earlier period.
   Based in Shawnee Mission, Kan., Seaboard is a conglomerate that also has interests in agriculture, milling, commodities trading and power.
   The Miami-based marine division saw higher sales compared to the same period in 2009 primarily as a result of higher cargo volumes in most markets resulting from increased economic activity.
   The company said volume growth this year has been partially offset by overall lower cargo rates in 2010. It also said it has seen higher fuel costs for vessels and increased trucking costs on a per unit shipped basis.
   Seaboard said it expected the marine segment to be profitable for the remainder of 2010.