SembCorp First Half Down 6%

SembCorp Marine posted a 6.4 percent drop in half-year net profit to S$39.2 million ($21.4 million) from S$41.9 million in the first six months of 2001. The Singapore-based group -- a subsidiary of the SembCorp Industries conglomerate which concentrates on ship repair, offshore conversion and shipbuilding -- said in a statement its performance in 2001 was expected to be comparable with the previous year. It valued its outstanding order book for 2001-2004 at S$1.72 billion. Despite the lower first-half numbers, analysts say SembCorp Marine is likely to be largely unscathed by the economic downturn as it has an order book valued at around S$1 billion for the next two to three years. SembCorp Marine shares ended half a cent higher at S$0.895 on Tuesday before the results were released. - (Reuters)