Sampoerna first half net profit surges

Sampoerna first half net profit surges

JAKARTA: HM Sampoerna, Indonesia's third-largest cigarette maker, on Friday reported a sharp first half rise in net profit, supported by improved sales.

The company posted first half to June net profit of Rp 1.08 trillion (US$120 million) against Rp 786.8 billion in the first half last year.

Sampoerna said sales rose to Rp 8.42 trillion from Rp 6.97 trillion a year earlier. Operating profit increased to Rp 1.76 trillion compared with Rp 1.24 trillion rupiah in the first half of 2003, the company said. --AFP