Hutchison’s first half port profits up 10%

Hutchison’s first half port profits up 10% Hong Kong’s Hutchison Whampoa Ltd., owners of Hutchison Port Holdings, the world’s largest container terminals operator, has reported 10 percent higher first half operating profit from its ports and related services segment to HK$5.76 billion ($738 million).
   The ports business generated revenue of HK$17.75 billion ($2.3 billion) for the six months ended June 30, up 16 percent over the same period last year. The unit’s performance represents 16 percent of Hutchison Whampoa’s consolidated revenue for its established businesses in the first half, which reached HK$141.5 billion ($18.1 billion), up 14 percent year-on-year.
   After six months of 2007, Hutchison global throughput increased 14 percent to 31.5 million TEUs. It currently has interests in 45 ports comprising 257 berths worldwide.