BRAMBLES is bullish about its full-year prospects, as its CHEP pallet and container business continues to perform well.

The company today also announced the expansion of CHEP into India, where it sees significant long term growth opportunities.

Brambles reported a first-half net profit from continuing operations of $US296.7 million ($A323.5 million), which was up 10 per cent, or three per cent in constant currency terms.

Its bottom-line result was $US293.7 million ($A320.3 million), which was broadly in line with analysts expectations.

Brambles shares jumped five per cent or 47 cents to $9.79 by 1345 AEDT.

The reported results was well down on the previous corresponding period, but the earlier profit was boosted by earnings from the $1.8 billion sale of its waste management business Cleanaway and local industrial services unit.

On a like-for-like basis, the comparable operating profit was up 19 per cent to $US500.5 million ($A545.7 million), or up 12 per cent in constant currency terms.

Brambles chief executive Mike Ihlein said today that India was the next most important market for Brambles to explore.

"India is a significant long-term opportunity for CHEP and we are very encouraged by the level of interest we have received from companies that already have major relationships with CHEP in other countries," he said.

The transport logistics company said it was well positioned, despite uncertainty about the global economy and its potential to affect consumer sentiment.

"This is due to the strength of the CHEP business model, its high quality customer base and the expectation that solid demand for grocery products will continue," it said.

"Our objective remains to deliver double digit sustainable revenue growth in the medium to long term."

In the first half, revenue rose 13 per cent to $2.11 billion.

"This improvement was led by CHEP, which performed well in all regions, in both sales and profit," Mr Ihlein said.

CHEP sales increased 12 per cent to $US1.75 billion ($A1.91 billion) in the half year, led higher by CHEP Americas where sales rose 11 per cent due to strong demand for grocery products.

Mr Ihlein said an improved performance at CHEP Europe was encouraging, with more than 1,000 new customer contracts signed in the half.

CHEP's operations elsewhere, in China, Australia and New Zealand, generated sales growth of 18 per cent.

Recall, the document and information management division, grew sales by 16 per cent to $US357.7 million ($A390.0 million).

Sales are expected to continue to grow in the second half, albeit at a lower rate.

Mr Ihlein said the relatively flat performance of Recall in the US was "disappointing", but he expects a turnaround in the months ahead.

Meanwhile, Brambles plans to invest up to $US750 million in the next three years, not including acquisitions, to drive further sales growth.

Brambles recently won a Woolworths Ltd contract that will add "significant growth" to the business in Australia over the next six years, Mr Ihlein said.

China will also be a growth area for Brambles, where it has just won contracts with Tsing Tao Breweries, Nestle Waters and Asia Pacific Breweries.

There are other investment opportunities in the US beverages and food service sectors, as well as expansion in Germany, Central and Eastern Europe and the establishment of a CHEP presence in India.

Mr Ihlein said with a population of 1.2 billion and strong economic growth, now is the right time to enter India.

"India is a great opportunity," he said.

Brambles declared an interim dividend of 17 cents.