PNG gold miner Niugini Mining Ltd has come in marginally ahead of expectations to report a $US3.05 ($4.13) million net profit for the June half year after an extraordinary gain from the sale of a gold property in Thailand and better operating performances.

Analysts had been expecting a loss of between $US500,000 and $US1 million, as the company rationalises its Chilean operations, slowly winds down Red Dome in Queensland, and turns its focus to development of the giant Lihir mine in PNG.