Ports of Auckland said its first-half net profit rose by 9.5 per cent to $28.9 million in the six months to December, driven by higher freight volumes.
The company said an interim dividend of $25.5 million will be paid to its owner, Auckland Council Investments, up 21.6 per cent from the previous year.
Pre-tax earnings fell by 6.9 per cent to $33.6 million, mainly the result of the timing of repairs and maintenance costs and disruption to shipping schedules caused by congestion in foreign ports.
Container volumes rose by 3 per cent against an expectation that volumes would fall as a result of the loss of a significant service - Maersk's Pacific Star line to the Port of Tauranga - and the impact from congestion at other ports.