Norway's offshore services company Fred Olsen Energy said today it expected strong growth in demand from 2010 after it posted a bigger-than-expected rise in second-quarter operating profit.

Earnings before interest and tax stood at Nkr907 million ($140.1 million) in the quarter, against Nkr495 million a year ago and Nkr871 million average in a Reuters poll with estimates ranging from Nkr772 to Nkr936 million.

"We are positioning ourselves in a market where we expect a strong increase in demand over the next few years," chief executive Helge Haakonsen told a presentation.

"We believe in stronger demand...from 2010," he said.