The net profit of Egyptian cement company Ameriya Cement rose 13.22 per cent YoY to E£23.63m (US$4.1m) in 2004.  The increase in net profit came despite the 0.2 per cent decline in net sales to E£370.06m ($64m) and the 17.1 per cent rise in the cost of sales to E£286.06m ($49.4m). The company’s gross profit fell to E£84m ($14.5m) from E£126.69m ($21.9m).