Feb 23 (Reuters) - British chemicals maker Elementis Plc (ELM.L) posted a 62 percent drop in full-year adjusted pretax profit, but maintained its dividend and said 2010 trading began on a positive note as customers started restocking.

"The second half exhibited an improvement in operating profit and margins as customer destocking abated and the actions taken to reduce costs began to take effect," the company said in a statement.

Elementis, which makes chemicals to enhance the texture of paints and cosmetics, and chromium products used to coat metals and tan leather, said adjusted pretax profit was 18.3 million pounds ($28.33 million) for the year ended Dec. 31, compared with 48.5 million pounds last year.

Revenue fell 9 percent to 363.7 million pounds. Analysts on average expected revenue of 356.1 million pounds, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.

The company maintained its full-year dividend at 2.9 pence a share.

Elementis incurred 49.5 million pounds in exceptional items for the year, including the closure of the UK Chromium plant and some one-time hedging costs.

Shares of the company were up 5.7 percent at 56 pence at 0811 GMT on Tuesday 23 February on the London Stock Exchange. ($1=.6459 Pound) (Reporting by Anirban Sen in Bangalore)