Peru-based producer Unacem reported a 23 per cent rise in its net profit for the first half of 2015 to PEN151m (US$47.4m) largely attributed to cost controls.

Lower operational costs (-9.1 per cent) saw operating profit rise to PEN455.7m, up 93.4 per cent when compared with !H14. However, higher financial costs (+107 per cent to PEN114.1m) and exchange losses (-PEN181m) had a negative effect.

Nevertheless, 2Q15 sales edged up 6.7 per cent to PEN475.6m and by 9.5 per cent to PEN957.6m in 1H15.