Chinese CIMC sees net profit higher

China's CIMC, the world's top maker of shipping containers, said on Tuesday it expected to report that a bursting order book and high container prices helped it more than triple its net profit in 2004. China International Marine Containers (CIMC) is an arm of ports-to-roads conglomerate China Merchants Group. Its main competitor in making shipping containers is Singamas.
CIMC's 2003 earnings surged 47 percent to 682.69 million yuan ($82.48 million).
The company had predicted its 2004 profit would more than double or even triple. Its third-quarter earnings more than tripled.
China, the world's seventh-largest economy, posted its biggest trade surplus in nine years in December, as the country's booming exports showed little sign of trailing off.