Saudi cement producer Arabian Cement Company posted a net profit of SAR252m (US$67.2m) for the first nine months of 2005, down 3.5 per cent YoY.  The fall came despite the 16.9 per cent rise in sales to SAR519.7m (US$138.6 mln/117.3m). Operating income also rose to SAR248m (US$66.1m) in the first nine months of 2005, which was offset by a sharp decrease in other income to SAR15.7 m ($4.2 mln/3.5 mln euro).