Korea Zinc Co., the world's largest zinc smelter by output, said Wednesday its net profit jumped almost sixfold in 2006 from a year earlier on higher zinc prices.

Net income skyrocketed 499.2 per cent to 425.2 billion won (US$456.1 million) last year from 71 billion won a year ago, the company said in a regulatory filing.

Sales rose 56.5 per cent year-on-year to 2.15 trillion won and operating profit surged 123.3 per cent to 351.5 billion won, it added.

Shares of Korea Zinc rose 3.26 per cent to 88,800 won as of 2:41 p.m. on the Seoul bourse.

Korea Zinc produces about 9 per cent of the world's refined zinc.