Aditya Birla Group company UltraTech Cement today posted a 32 per cent rise in net profit at Rs 279 crore for the quarter ended December 31, 2007, against Rs 212 crore, on improved production efficiency.  
 
"Increase in variable cost per tonne was restricted to 4 per cent as a result of improved production efficiencies. This was despite higher energy costs by 9 per cent, primarily due to escalating coal prices," it said in a release here.  
 
Net sales stood at Rs 1,382 crore during the period, up 10 per cent, compared to Rs 1,260 crore in Q3 FY07.