Revenue increased five percent to $1.45 billion, up from $1.38 billion driven by a seven percent increase in consolidated throughput to 13.2 million TEUs (Twenty foot equivalent container units) up from 12.3 million TEUs.

Gross cash generation from operating activities rose to $525 million during the first half of the year compared to $500 million in the same period last year.

"These results reflect the return to container volume growth combined with the continuation of cost management to drive Ebitda [earnings before income taxes, depreciation and amortization] margins ahead of expectations," Chief Executive Officer Mohammed Sharaf said.

However, uncertainty continues to loom over the sustainability of global trade volumes, he added. But he remained optimistic about the company's performance in the second half of the year to surpass the first six months of 2010.

"We are on track to meet full-year results in line with our expectations," he said. "We have continued to invest in our operations to improve our service to our customers with a number of our terminals benefiting from new cranes and yard equipment. Operations have begun at Callao, Peru, with two further developments becoming operational in the second half of the year."

DP World's container volume fell eight percent last year, leading to a slide in profit, as the global financial crisis cut demand for consumer goods. The company handled 25.6 million TEUs at the 28 consolidated terminals in 2009, it said in January.

DP World in June postponed the listing of its shares on the London Stock Exchange as it awaited the completion of a link between the bourses in London and its home market Dubai.

The ports operator said last month it remains committed to listing some of its shares on the London Stock Exchange after postponing its plans in June, saying it needed to find "an acceptable system that supports the dual listing."

"The board has made the decision and they are committed we will be listing in London, but the earliest we can do it is after our 2010 numbers," Sharaf said. "We can't pinpoint a time. Is it going to be in June? January or April? I don't know," he said. "We need audited results."

DP World - whose growth in container shipping came primarily from terminals in Asia, Australia and from across European ports - said its volumes grew 24 percent in the Americas and Australia, 22 percent in Asia-Pacific and the Indian subcontinent and eight percent in Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

DP World is planning to start operations at new terminals in India and Pakistan this year, it said.