Saudi cement producer Qassim Cement Company (QCC) posted a net profit of 131.4 mln Saudi riyals (US$35m) for the first half of 2005, up 4.4 per cent year-on-year.  Gross profit grew 8.5 per cent to 61.7 mln riyals (US$16.5m) for January to June 2005. The company registered an 8.4 per cent rise in total operating expenses to 6.0 mln riyals (US$1.6m) in the first six months of 2005.  QCC’s total assets stood at 1.422 bln riyals (US$379m) at end-June 2005, up 33.8 per cent.  Published under Cement News