Qingdao Haier Co., home appliance maker that is 36 percent controlled by Haier Group, said its net profit rose 26% in the first half because of an increase in sales, The Wall Street Journal reported. The company posted net profit of 187.1 million yuan for the first half, up from 148.3 million yuan a year earlier while core revenue rose 18% to 11.25 billion yuan from 9.56 billion yuan. Chief Executive Zhang Ruimin said in May the company was still considering acquisitions in the home-appliance industry around the world. He said that Haier Group expects to have at least 20 factories overseas by 2010, up from 13 at the time. The company already makes refrigerators at a factory in the state of South Carolina in the U.S., said the paper.