Engineering consultant Hyder Consulting has posted a 2.2% increase in pre-tax profit from £5.5m to £5.7m in the six months to 30 September 2008.

Turnover was up 39% from £108.7m to £151.6m, thanks to a strong performance in the Middle East and Asia Pacific regions. The overall operating margin fell from 7.3% to 7%.

Net debt at 30 September was £8.7m, compared with £11.1m in 2007, which gives the company headroom of about £30m on its long-term debt facility. Its order book grew 29% to £346m.

Turnover grew 16% in the UK and Europe from £55.9m to £65m, while the figure rocketed by 80% in the Middle East from £24.3m to £43.7m.