Income of Kazakhmys PLC in the first half-year of year 2006 exceeded the forecasts

/REUTERS, London, September 19, 06, title IRBIS/ - Kazakhstan copper monopolist Kazakhmys informed on Tuesday, that its income for the first half-year on the background of record high prices for copper double increased, and announced that it is waiting the growth of production and prices for its products by the totals of the year. the income of the company in January-June of 2006 increased by 90% in comparison with the same period of the last year to $2.28 bn. due to the growth of selling prices by 88%. At that the volume of production decreased by 6%. The EBITDA indicator increased by 124% to $1.08 bn. The income per share increased to $1.32 from $0.59 in the first half-year of the last year. The average forecast of analysts made $1.24. "We are waiting that prices for copper remain upper then the long term historical average level till the end of this year and in year 2007", - it is said in the message of the company. "For the whole year we are still waiting for moderate growth of volumes of production of cathode copper in comparison with year 2005". Company also informed that its general manager Yong Ku Cha will left its post by private motives. The market capitalization of Kazakhmys increased more then twice times after listing in London in October of the last year due to the growth of prices for copper and reached on Monday $11.1 bn. [2006-09-19]