ASSOCIATED British Ports is steering a course for growth after forecasting a spark in half-year profits.

AB, which numbers Whitby among ports it operates across the UK and US, said yesterday it expected group turnover for the six months to June to increase by at least three per cent.

Updating shareholders ahead of its interim figures, AB said the core UK ports had performed well with "pro-gress and growth" in roll-on/roll-off, containers and vehicle imports and exports.

Imports of forest products and steel are also up, and UK operating profits from ports and transport are now expected to grow by more than three per cent.

AB said: ''While the general economic conditions remain uncertain, the group's core UK ports and transport business has the advantage of having many long-term contracts with quality customers."