Expro said only an adverse exchange rate marred an otherwise encouraging turnover.

The company announced a 48% increase in basic earnings per share (pre-goodwill and exceptional items) to 9.6p in comparison to the same period last year. It also reduced its tax rate fro 47% to 43% and benefited from two one-off gains from investments in Iran.

Expro’s directors also declared a maintained interim dividend 3.8p per share payable on 31 January next year to all shareholders registered by 31 December this year.

“I am very pleased to announce today a set of results that reflect in financial terms the substantive progress we’ve made in implementing the strategy announced a year ago," Expro CEO Graeme Coutts said.

"Our increased customer focus and technology development has helped reverse the previously downward volume trend, and revenues are beginning to grow.

“Earnings are now benefiting from the company’s high operational gearing, coupled with lower financing and tax charges [and] the market outlook for the second half and beyond remains positive.”