Vienna - Austrian-based construction group Strabag SE on Friday reported its net profit rose 25 per cent to 82.3 million euros (121.4 million dollars) in the second quarter, and raised its forecast for 2008, due to a record order backlog.

Strabag's earnings before interest and taxes (EBIT) amounted to 109.8 million euros, up 11 per cent from the second quarter of 2007, while revenues increased by 17 per cent to 3.01 billion euros.

At 3.37 billion euros, the group's output volume grew 23 per cent between April and June, contributing to a 19-per-cent rise in the first half of 2008.

Construction in Central and Eastern Europe contributed about 42 per cent to the half-year growth in output, the company said.

As of the end of June, Strabag had an order backlog worth a record 13.66 billion euros, with 15 per cent of this amount coming from Russian projects. Backlog orders increased 28 per cent in the first half of 2008, compared with the same period last year.

Russian investor Oleg Deripaska acquired a 30-per-cent stake in Strabag in 2007.

Due to Strabag's investments so far this year, the company raised its outlook for output and revenue growth for 2008 from 15 to 25 per cent. (dpa)