Italian cement company Cementir SpA, a unit of local construction company Caltagirone, posted a net profit of EUR27.9m (US$34.4m) for the first half of 2005, up by 85% YoY.

The company posted a net consolidated turnover of EUR402.9m (US$497.06m), up by 166.7% YoY.  EBITDA stood at EUR82.8m (US$102.2m), up 114% YoY.

Operating profit grew 100 per cent YoY to EUR49m (US$60.5m).

Cementir’s net financial debt totalled EUR329.5m (US$406.5m) at June 30, 2005, compared to EUR330.9m euro (US$408.2m) at March 31, 2005.