new hope corp ltd sharply raised its final dividend and said it would pay a special dividend as annual profit surged on high coal prices the australian mining company on tuesday reported a net profit of 9830 million australian dollars us662 million for the year through july up from a794 million in the same period a year earlier underlying earnings before interest tax depreciation and amortization climbed to a158 billion from a3672 million the 12 months prior directors declared a final dividend of 31 australian cents per share compared to 7 australian cents a year ago the miner will also pay a special dividend of 25 australian cents per share the jump in profits was linked to an increase in average realized coal prices to a28184 a metric ton from a10136 a ton in the yearearlier period the fourthquarter average realized price was a49352 a ton the company said recordhigh coal prices more than offset a fall in saleable coal outputwhich totaled 79 million tons versus 96 million the year priorand higher production costs as the company faced supply chain constraints and inflationary pressures