Japanese owner Iino Kaiun Kaisha has bemoaned the "sluggish" state of chemical tanker markets as it saw profit fall in the six months to 30 September.

The company said the sector was hit by uncertainties caused by the downturn in the global economy.

It added it had worked to "efficiently allocate vessels and improve vessel operation profitability by such means as making efforts to renew existing contracts on favourable terms."