Matson Inc. boosted its second-quarter profit by 33 percent largely due to increased business in China and Alaska.

The Honolulu-based ocean cargo transportation firm today reported earning $24 million in the April-June period, up from $18 million in the same quarter last year.

The company said higher customer demand in China and last year’s acquisition of a freight bundling company in Alaska helped produce the increased profit. The timing of fuel surcharge collections from customers also contributed to the improvement.

Partially offsetting the gains was a 3 percent cargo volume decline in Hawaii, Matson’s largest market. The company said this was due to lower construction material shipments as Honolulu’s high-rise condominium development boom ebbs, and the lack of additional business that Matson captured in last year’s second quarter when competitor Pasha Hawaii temporarily lost one ship to mechanical problems and had to reconfigure its service.

Matt Cox, Matson chairman and CEO, said in a news release that second-quarter financial results were better than expected. However, he noted that the company continues to expect lower operating income for the full year as Matson previously projected.