Saudi cement producer Saudi Cement Company (SCC) posted a net profit of 248.9 mln Saudi riyals ($66.4m) for the first half of 2005, up 24.4 per cent year-on-year.  Gross profit grew by 13.4 per cent year-on-year to 272.4 mln riyals ($72.6m) for January to June 2005. The company registered a 7.7 per cent annual drop in total operating expenses to 29.6 mln riyals ($7.9m) in the first six months of 2005.