Saudi Arabia’s Yanbu Cement has announced third quarter profits of $40.5m, a 21 per cent increase on the corresponding period of 2011.

The results for the third quarter represent a 29.63 per cent loss compared to the second quarter of 2012, but year-to-date the company is 36 per cent up on 2011.

The increase of profits has been credited with the start-up of a fifth production line at its plant, which has increased the commercial production of concrete.