Berlian Laju Tanker doubles profit to US$142 mln

The net profit of tanker ship operator PT Berlian Laju Tanker (JSX:BLTA) shot up 105.26 per cent to Rp1.56 trillion (US$142 million) in 2008 from Rp758.98 billion in the previous year.

The increase in net profit was attributable mainly to 92.39 per cent increase to Rp7 trillion in operating income from Rp3.64 trillion in 2007, its finance director Kevin Wong said.

Chembulk Tankers LLC , which the company acquired in 2007 contributed around 50 per cent to the total income, Wong was quoted as saying by the newspaper Investor Daily. Chembulk Tankers LC has doubled the carrying capacity of the oil fuel and liquid chemical carrier company, which is listed on the Indonesian Stock Exchange, Wong said.