Ivory Coast natural rubber producer SAPH on Friday said first-half profit jumped 14-fold on increased production and higher rubber prices. The company said net profit rose to CFA Francs 19.56 billion ($38 million) from CFA 1.43 billion in the same period last year.

The huge increase was largely due to rises in the price of rubber on the international markets and increases in the company's own production, a statement released on the West Africa BRVM bourse said