Jakarta - PT Salim Ivomas Pratama Tbk (SIMP), until the end of the first semester of 2021, recorded a profit for the period attributable to owners of the parent company of Rp219 billion from a loss of Rp301 billion in the same period the previous year.

"This achievement was mainly due to an increase in operating profit and a decrease in financial expenses which was partially offset by an increase in income tax expense," said SIMP Group President Director Mark Wakeford in a statement on Friday (13/8).

SIMP posted operating profit growth of around 500% to Rp1.13 trillion, financial expenses decreased by about 10.89% to Rp355.58 billion, while income tax expense almost tripled to Rp439.42 billion.

SIMP sales also jumped by around 30% to Rp8.96 trillion from Rp6.87 trillion, driven by an increase in the average selling price (ASP) of palm and vegetable oil and fat products (EOF), as well as an increase in sales volume of EOF products.