Book profits on the sale of stakes in Danisco and DuPont boosted net profit at chemicals group DSM sharply in the second quarter.

Net profit rose from €149m in the 2010 second quarter to €392m including €266m generated by the sales. Turnover was up 7% at €2.3bn while operating profit rose 3% to €238m.
‘While general economic forecasts for the year continue to be positive, there are increased uncertainties related to the global economy,’ said CEO Feike Sijbesma in a statement.
‘However, we believe we are well positioned with our balanced, relatively resilient portfolio in health, nutrition and materials, and with our broad geographic footprint.’
The company’s Nutrition division posted its ‘best quarter ever’ despite the impact of the dollar.
Pharma sales and results improved compared with Q1, but DSM said it is ‘conscious that overall performance of the cluster remains below acceptable levels’.