KUWAITI global logistics provider Agility has posted an 11 per cent increase in first quarter net profit to KWD11.24 million (US$39.9 million), drawn on revenues of KWD314.28 million, down 11 per cent.

"Core commercial logistics performance this quarter is mixed," said Agility CEO Tarek Sultan.

"On one hand, it continues to make progress. On the other, top line growth is challenged by market conditions that are affecting the industry overall," he said.

"Overall, Agility continues to improve its financial performance by focusing on growing its infrastructure portfolio of companies and simultaneously driving transformation of its core commercial logistics business," said Mr Sultan.

Revenue for Agility Global Integrated Logistics in the first quarter was KWD253.30 million, a year-on-year decline of 15 per cent, attributed to a difficult market, which led to rate deterioration despite volume increases.

"The drop was partially mitigated by better procurement in the freight business, which led to margin expansion from 21 to 23 per cent in this quarter, said the company statement.

Core commercial logistics areas of focus will continue to drive commercial improvement across global accounts and field sales, product performance and specialty businesses, the company said.

"Second, it is to transform the underlying business through ongoing technology, process and management improvements. Third, is to maintain financial discipline and a lean and agile structure," said the Agility statement.

Agility's infrastructure group of companies contributed KWD62.73 million to first quarter 2014 revenues, a nine per cent year-on-year increase.

Infrastructure companies continue to be strong contributors to the company's financial infrastructure group, grew its revenues by 14 per cent.

Agility Real Estate continued to look for emerging market growth opportunities with world-class industrial facilities. Other infrastructure companies in the group worked on growing business and expanding their customer base in frontier emerging markets.

Agility is a publicly-traded company with over US$5 billion in revenue and more than 22,000 employees in 500 offices in 100 countries.