Agricultural commodity merchant Louis Dreyfus Company recorded a rise in first-half sales, supported by higher volumes shipped, but weaker prices for most crops pushed down profits, it said. Core EBITDA profit, however, fell 6.6% to $987 million (€839.4 million) while net profit dropped 14.5% to $418 million (€355.5 million). Coffee Leads The WayThe group's coffee division stood out by posting higher operating profit, supported by increased volumes and prices. But most other units, including grains and oilseeds, recorded lower results due to weaker prices, trade tensions and an uncertain economic climate, LDC said in an interim financial report. The company increased capital expenditure in the first half to $521 million (€443.1 million) from $299 million (€254.3 million) a year earlier, notably to expand oilseed processing, including in North America.