Mining company Anglo American PLC said Thursday that first-half profit rose 27 percent on the back of high copper, platinum and coal prices.

Net profits for the six months through June 30 rose to US$4.3 billion from US$3.38 billion in the same period last year. Revenue rose 13 percent to US$14.53 billion from US$12.88.

"The key drivers of this performance were production growth in copper, iron ore, manganese ore, coal and phosphates, continued strength in the commodity price environment and the early benefits of tighter operational discipline across the businesses," chief executive Cynthia Carroll said in a statement.

She said that the firm experts further rises in coal and iron ore production as new coking coal plants begin production in Australia and expansions in iron ore projects take effect.

Anglo American previously announced it is selling concrete and aggregates supplier Tarmac Iberia to Swiss cement maker Holcim Ltd. for US$228 million. Holcim hopes to complete the deal in September following regulatory approval.

Carroll said strategy was aimed at focussing Anglo American on core businesses.

She said that despite an uncertain global outlook for the second half of 2008, the firm expects strong demand from China and other emerging economies to fuel growth. "We expect a strong second half to the year driven by increased production, further improvements in our operational performance and robust pricing," Carroll said.

The company said problems with power supplies in South Africa have hampered production there. Carroll said Anglo American is working with the South African government to improve energy supplies. – Associated Press