March 19 (Reuters) - Australian coal miner New Hope Corp ( NHPEF )

on Tuesday reported a 62.4% drop in its first-half

profit, as a sharp decline in worldwide coal prices cut

earnings.

The company logged a profit attributable to shareholders of

A$251.7 million ($165.01 million) for the six months ended Jan.

31, compared with a record profit of A$668.6 million a year

earlier.

($1 = 1.5253 Australian dollars)