HONG KONG — Hong Kong billionaire Li Ka-shing’s conglomerate Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. has posted a sevenfold increase in first half profit following the sale of its ports unit in the form of a listed business trust in Singapore.

Hutchison’s said Thursday its six-month profit totaled 46.3 billion Hong Kong dollars ($5.9 billion) on revenue of HK$187.35 billion. Its first-half profit in 2010 HK6.32 billion on revenue of HK$148.78.

The company operates retail, property, energy, infrastructure and telecom operations in over 50 countries.

A company statement said it booked a one-time gain of HK$44.30 billion from the spin off in March of shares in its ports unit, comprising deep-water operations in Hong Kong and China.

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