(JW Insights) Aug 2 -- China's major internet companies saw notable profit increases in the first half of the year, data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) shows.

Xinhua reported that major internet companies saw their cumulative profits rise 27.6 percent year on year to total RMB63.96 billion (about $8.97 billion) during the period.

Their combined business revenues came in at RMB643.3 billion ($89.57 billion), up 2.6 percent year on year.

Enterprises that mainly offer online sales services saw their internet business revenues increase 37.4 percent from a year earlier.

Major internet companies and related services companies are technology firms with an annual revenue of at least RMB20 million ($2.78 million), said the Xinhua report.

(Yuan XY/Gao J)