Ports of Auckland is optimistic about the second half of the financial year, despite dismal first-half results.

The company's had a 20.8 percent drop in net after tax profit to $13.6 million for the six months to December.

CEO Tony Gibson says Covid-19 means goods are being delayed in other ports, like Los Angeles.

But he says in Auckland ships are arriving closer to their original estimated arrival time.

"The good thing is, once the ships are in here, we clear the goods very quickly - so on average, the import goods are being cleared from the port 1.8-2 days, so we're happy with that."

He says there are plans to cope with the Covid-19 impacts on the container terminal automation project.

Chairman Bill Osbourne told Heather du Plessis-Allan that the result is disappointing but not a surprise.

"We've had many problems around congestion globally, and our part in has not been helped."

LISTEN ABOVE