Revenue for the three months ended Sept 30 rose 11.7 per cent to $2.5 billion.

The group's utilities segment posted 33 per cent higher profits for the three months from the transfer of transmission and distribution pipeline assets to PowerGas, the group said.

The marine segment posted a hefty 68 per cent rise in profits on higher operating margins from its rig building and ship repair businesses.

However the gains were diminished by losses in the environment and industrial park areas.

Sembcorp said that impairments of part of its plant and machinery hurt profits in its environment business while there were lower contributions from its Indonesia and Vietnam industrial parks.

For the nine months ended Sept 30, net profit rose 8.5 per cent to $406.2 million while revenue gained 18.8 per cent to $7.2 billion.

The company said that its marine unit has secured $5.5 billion worth of new orders since January this year, bringing its year-to-date net order book to $9.9 billion with deliveries and completions stretching from the fourth quarter this year to 2012.

On the outlook for its business, Sembcorp said the fundamentals for the offshore sector remain intact and demand for ship repair is expected to remain strong, but a global slowdown in manufacturing may affect its industrial park business.

Mr Tang Kin Fei, group president and chief executive of Sembcorp Industries, said: 'Backed by strong operating cash flows and a robust balance sheet, we believe that Sembcorp is well-placed to weather the difficult times ahead and to benefit from opportunities that may well arise from such a downturn.'

Earnings per share were 8.15 cents, a 25.2 per cent increase from 6.52 cents. Net asset value per share was $1.53 as at Sept 30, down from $1.70 as at Dec 31.

In spite of the challenging environment, Sembcorp expects 'satisfactory results' for the full year. The counter closed flat at $2.50 on Friday.