LONDON (Dow Jones)--Polythene products company British Polythene Industries PLC (BPI.LN) Tuesday said first-half earnings will be lower than a year earlier due to a rise in raw material costs and weak demand for its silage products. The company said trading continues to be challenging. It said polymer prices--a key raw material cost--are "stubbornly high" in western Europe. British Polythene Industries said it will report results for the six months to June 30 on August 31. -By Jason Douglas, Dow Jones Newswires; 44-20-7842-9272; jason.douglas@dowjones.com (END) Dow Jones Newswires June 29, 2010 02:35 ET (06:35 GMT)