Forth Ports, the UK’s last surviving quoted ports operator, said its Nordic waste recycling and Tilbury Container Services businesses had been hit by the downturn but were showing signs of improvements.

The Edinburgh ports and property group reported a 4 per cent fall in revenue to £86.6m ($140m) in the first half to June 30 and a 10 per cent drop in underlying profits from £16.5m to £14.8m.