News: UPDATE 1-Australia's Cochlear posts 19 pct profit rise

(Adds segment detail around slowing sales growth in Asia)

SYDNEY, Feb 14 (Reuters) - Australia's Cochlear Ltd (COH), the world No.1 hearing implants maker, on Tuesday posted a half-year profit rise of 19 percent, but reported slowing sales growth in Asia.

The Sydney-listed maker of about two-thirds of all hearing implants sold globally posted net profit for the six months to Dec. 31 of A$111.4 million ($85.1 million), compared with A$94 million previously.

Earnings per share of A$1.94 came in slightly below analyst expectations of A$1.96, though the company is tracking toward the upper end of its own guidance for a full-year profit of between A$210 million and A$225 million.

Soaring sales to Asia underpinned strong results in recent years for Cochlear, and chief executive Chris Smith said in a statement that "positive momentum" has continued in to 2017.

But despite the company boosting its sales presence in China, the number of implants it sold under government tenders there actually fell, and the revenue growth for the Asia region was 4 percent, compared with 69 percent a year ago.

The company also said it expected its full-year sales to the Chinese government to be lower than in 2016.

The fastest sales growth, of 10 percent, was in Cochlear's biggest market in the Americas, which comprises almost half the company's revenue -- boosted by the launch of several new products in 2016, including a thinner implant which allows less intrusive surgery. Asian sales comprise almost a fifth.

The company will pay an interim dividend of A$1.30 per share, compared with A$1.10 a year ago. ($1 = 1.3087 Australian dollars)