TOKYO, Oct 31 (Reuters) - Japan's Panasonic Holdings ( PCRFF )

said on Thursday the second-quarter operating profit of

its battery-making energy unit rose 42%, despite pressure from

decreasing demand in Japan and lower sales values in North

America due to price revisions.

Operating income for the key segment, which makes batteries

for Tesla and other automakers, increased to 32.7

billion yen ($213.82 million), helped by stronger sales of

energy storage systems for data centres in the unit's consumer

business.

The company, however, maintained the full-year operating

profit forecast for the unit at 109 billion yen.

($1 = 152.9300 yen)