Yanbu Cement Co's first-half net profit rose by 44.7 per cent YoY to SAR521m (US$138.9m), thanks to higher production and sales volumes supported by the start of its kiln line No 5 last year.

Earnings per share (EPS) stood at SAR 3.31, up from SAR 2.29 a year ago.

For the second quarter of 2013, YCC registered a net profit of SAR274m, an increase from SAR216m a year earlier.