Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Province Cement Company said on Tuesday fourth quarter net profit rose 79 per cent from a year earlier to SAR111m ($29.60m). 
 
Full-year profit grew 49 per cent to SAR446m on higher sales volume, the company said in a statement on the stock exchange Web site, citing preliminary data.
 
"This record growth in the firm’s net profits in 2006 is mainly due to a rise in sales volume," it added, without giving details.