22/05/2014 (Bernama) - Kuala Lumpur Kepong Bhd's (KLK) pre-tax profit for the second quarter ended March 31, 2014, surged 49.2 per cent to RM424.4 million from RM284.6 million in the same quarter last year.

Its revenue rose 31.2 per cent to RM2.934 billion for the period from RM2.236 billion previously, KLK said in a filing to Bursa Malaysia today.

The company said its manufacturing sector registered a significant increase of 69.7 per cent in profit to RM137.7 million, with the oleochemical division's profit rising 64.2 per cent to RM136.3 million on the back of improved sales volume and higher unrealised gain.

Its plantations profit of RM288.5 million was 50.6 per cent above the RM191.6 million recorded in the same quarter a year ago on account of better realised selling prices of crude palm oil and palm kernel.

Meanwhile, the properties sector posted a profit of RM8.4 million, down 45.8 per cent from RM15.5 million in the same quarter previously.

KLK said this was due to the drop in progressive recognition of profits from the development project in Bandar Seri Coalfields, Sungai Buloh.

The company declared an interim single tier dividend of 15 sen per share for the financial year ending Sept 30, 2014, payable on Aug 12, 2014.