BEIJING - The Aluminum Corporation of China Ltd (Chalco), the listed arm of the country's largest maker of the lightweight metal, said Saturday its net profit in the first half reached 412.58 million yuan ($64.47 million), down 22.24 percent year-on-year.

Earnings per share was 0.031 yuan, down 20.51 percent, according to a company statement posted on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.

The company attributed the profit decline to rising sales cost and losses incurred from futures investment.

The company said its investment returns reached 399 million yuan in the first half, which was down by 113 million yuan compared to the same period last year. Meanwhile, sales cost rose 10.77 percent.

Meanwhile, business revenues in the first half amounted to 65.97 billion yuan, up 10.36 percent, the statement said.