Engineering company WorleyParsons' first-half profit is up 18 per cent due to growth in resources sectors in Australia, Canada, China and the United States.
WorleyParsons posted a net profit of $152 million for the six months to December 31, 2011, up from $128.6 million in the previous corresponding period.
Chief executive John Grill said strong spending by the company's major customers underpinned growth in WorleyParsons' key markets of hydrocarbons and minerals and metals.
Smaller customers in both sectors were experiencing project delays due to the tightening of available funds, however.
The company said global staff numbers had risen by 2700 to a new hgih of 37,800.
"The key markets driving growth during this half were Canada, Australia, China and the United States," Mr Grill said in the statement.
"Growth was weaker in the government and public infrastructure markets.
"The overall trend is positive, allowing WorleyParsons to deliver earnings growth across all of our sectors for the period."
Major project awards in WA during the half-year included a FEED study for Hess' Equus offshore gas project, a major projects framework agreement for EPCM services for BHP Billiton's iron ore business and with the Water Corporation for the southern seawater desalaination plant's stage 2 expansion.
WorleyParsons expected to achieve "good growth" in underlying earnings in the full year when compared to the previous year, he said.
Underlying net profit in the first half was up 27 per cent on the previous corresponding period, the company said.
WorleyParsons declared an interim dividend of 40 cents per share, franked to 79.3 per cent.
Broking firm Patersons said the much improved result was still below its expectations, due to foreign exchange effects, higher interest costs and narrower margins.
The EBIT margin of 7.3 per cent was above the H1 2011 margin of 6.6 per cent but well below the H2 2011 margin of 9.4 per cent.
Patersons has changed its recommendation from Buy to Hold.
