The ports operator also expects full-year results to be in line with expectations, its chief executive said, despite worries about the global economic outlook for the second half of 2011.
"Going forward, as you know, everyone's talking about uncertainty," he said on a conference call. "But usually the second half is stronger than the first."
Gross volumes in the first half of the year climbed to 26.2 million TEU or twenty-foot equivalent container units, driven by strong growth in the Asia Pacific, United Arab Emirates, Africa and Americas regions, DP World said.
DP World, one of the more profitable assets of debt-laden Dubai World , said its consolidated terminals handled 13.5 million TEU in the first six months of the year.
"The strong container volumes seen in the first half of the year will result in a significant improvement in first half profit after tax against the same period last year," Sharaf said.
The world's third-largest port operator sold 75 percent of its Australian port operations for $1.5 billion last year, and its shares began trading on the London Stock Exchange last month.
Its shares were down 1.05 percent on Nasdaq Dubai. In London, the stock was up 2.66 percent. The shares have retreated about 10 percent from their June debut.
"My view is we are not fairly looked at versus our peers," Sharaf said of the share price.
DP World bought controlling interest in two port services firms in Suriname last week for an undisclosed amount.
DP World made a net profit after tax from continuing operations of $206 million in the first six months of last year. (Reuters)
