Feb 13 (Reuters) - Hindalco Industries, one of

India's largest aluminium and copper producers, reported a

better-than-expected third-quarter profit on Thursday, helped by

higher aluminium prices.

The Aditya Birla Group-owned company's consolidated net

profit surged 60.2% to 37.35 billion rupees ($429.5 million) in

the quarter ended December 31.

Analysts, on average, had expected 35.73 billion rupees

profit, per data compiled by LSEG.

($1 = 86.9580 Indian rupees)