PARIS (AP) - French carmaker Renault SA says its earnings rose in the first half compared to a year earlier as higher international growth helped offset a squeeze on profitability after the disaster in Japan choked off supply chains.
Renault said its net profit grew to (euro) 1.22 billion ($1.76 billion) in the first half compared to (euro) 780 million a year earlier.
France's number two carmaker said in a statement Thursday that the March earthquake and tsunami in Japan had an estimated (euro) 150 million negative impact on its earnings in the first half, while higher rising costs for steel and other raw materials weighed on earnings growth too.