Aug 14 (Reuters) -

Chilean industrial conglomerate Empresas Copec

posted on Wednesday an almost five fold jump in second-quarter

net profit compared to the same quarter last year, driven by its

forestry unit.

Profits for the quarter beat expectations, landing at

$288 million.

Meanwhile, revenues in the April-to-June period were up

more than 3% to reach $7.1 billion, according to the company,

which also reported that earnings before interest, taxes,

depreciation and amortization (EBITDA) surged nearly 80% to

total $768 million.

Analysts polled by LSEG had forecast quarterly profits

of $248 million, EBITDA of $721 million and $7.5 billion in

revenue during the three-month period.

Copec's forestry arm Arauco reported a

higher operating result helped by higher volumes and higher pulp

prices, as well as lower unit sales costs of all fibers, the

company announced in a statement.

Arauco accounts for the bulk of Copec's earnings even

though the conglomerate also operates a significant fuel

distribution business as well as mining stakes and a fleet of

fishing ships and factories.