Eastern Province Cement Company’s net profits dropped 46.2 per cent YoY to SAR50m (US$13.3m) in 2Q16, compared to SAR93m (US$24m) in the same period in 2015.This decrease is attributed to lower operating profit, lower sales as local demand weakens and higher production costs.

The company’s profits also fell 23 per cent in the first half of 2016 to SAR137m (US$36.5m) compared to profits of SAR178m (US$47.4m) in the first half of 2015.