Australia's Asciano underlying H1 profit up 6 pct

SYDNEY, Feb 18 (Reuters) - Australian rail and ports operator Asciano Ltd reported a 6 percent rise in underlying first-half net profit on Tuesday, helped by a strong performance in its coal haulage unit, and raised its outlook for the full year.

Underlying net profit rose to A$190.2 million ($171.7 million) for the six months ending December 31, from A$179.5 million a year ago.

The company said its biggest revenue source, Pacific National Rail, had suffered a difficult six months, with lower grain volumes, but its coal transporting business had shown good growth.

Asciano said it now expected low single-digit growth in underlying net profit this year, versus previous guidance for a flat result. ($1 = 1.1080 Australian dollars)

(Reporting by Maggie Lu Yueyang; Editing by Robin Pomeroy)

((maggie.luyueyang@thomsonreuters.com)(+61 2 93731819)(Reuters Messaging: maggie.luyueyang.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net))

Keywords: AUSTRALIA ASCIANO/