Asia region container carrier Samudera Shipping Line has boosted profits in the first six months of 2020 despite moving lower volumes and generating smaller revenues due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Indonesia-based Samudera reported a group profit after tax of $7.3m in the first half of the year, up from $2m in the same period of 2019.

Samudera said it responded to government efforts to fight the Covid-19 pandemic, which resulted in restrictions on the movement of goods across borders, by downsizing its fleet, dropping unprofitable services and reducing frequencies.