Shipping cargo boost

SHIPPING services giant Clarkson has reported buoyant half-year results, with pre-tax profits rising 25pc to £21.9m.

Revenue also jumped to £156.8m from £147.2m a year earlier, despite ‘difficult shipping and offshore markets’.

The rise came amid a ‘significant increase’ in spot broking revenues and rising dry cargo rates, helping to offset lower revenues from the company’s forward order book.

Clarkson chief executive Andi Case said he was ‘optimistic’ that the business was now in a position to capitalise on the upturn in the shipping market ‘when it occurs’.