Container volumes in the first half climbed 7 percent on a consolidated basis to 13.2 million TEU, or "twenty-foot equivalent container units". On a like-for-like basis, they advanced 10 percent, DP World said in a statement.
"The first half was unprecedented, " said DP World Chief Executive Mohammed Sharaf in a conference call with reporters. "We're taking a cautious position on whether the growth we have seen will grow further. We're hoping for the same but cautiously."
Sharaf said the second half of the year is historically stronger for volume growth.
In a statement earlier, the CEO said growth in first-half volumes will lead to an improvement in first-half profit after tax.
The company is set to post its first-half financial report on August 18.
Two analysts polled by Reuters expect DP World to post a net profit of between $148 million to $158 million, down from $175.32 million a year earlier.
Sharaf declined to comment on exact profit expectations for the year as he was uncertain over the sustainability of first-half trade volumes. But he said DP World was "comfortable" with analysts expectations of closing EBITDA of $1.2 billion for the year.
One of the largest port operators in the world, on a wider, non-consolidated basis accounting for all of its operations, DP World said it handled 23.7 million TEU, up 16 percent.
That was powered by business in Asia and Australia, it said, where the company has joint ventures and other tie-ups.
Dubai's debt woes have pushed up the cost of borrowing for many Gulf firms and foreign investors have become more wary of the region, while the global financial crisis has slowed the type of cross-border trade which fuels DP World's core business.
Though 77 percent owned by Dubai World, DP World is not included in the parent firm's $23.5 billion debt restructuring plan. (Reuters)
