BRUSSELS, July 26 (Xinhua) -- Royal Dutch Shell PLC said Thursday that its income rose 18 percent in the second quarter of this year, compared with the same quarter last year.

Income surged to 8.667 billion U.S. dollars in the second quarter of 2007, compared to 7.324 billion dollars a year before, according to a report of The Hague-based company.

The surge was mainly due to asset sales and strong earnings from oil refining. Refining earnings jumped to 3.928 billion dollars from 3.017 billion.

In the first six months, income rose by 12 percent than the same period last year.

"We are rejuvenating our portfolio, with sustained investment in new legacy assets, as well as disposals, both upstream and downstream. We continue to see competitive growth opportunities based on our technological strengths, by making disciplined capital choices, in an industry landscape of both higher energy prices and higher costs," said Shell Chief Executive Jeroen van der Veer in a statement.