PORTS and rail operator Asciano has increased its first half profit by 74 per cent and forecast more earnings growth.
Revenue in the six months to December of $1.87 billion was up 10 per cent from $1.7 billion in the same period in the previous year.
Profit growth was driven by significant growth in volumes in Asciano's Pacific National coal haulage business due to new contracts, the company said.
Its ports business also experienced higher volumes, as activity from the resources sector rose and a record number of cars were imported, Asciano said.
The company said it expects earnings and revenue in the second half of the 2012/13 financial year to be higher than in the same period in the previous year.
