RIYADH, 17 July 2005 — Saudi Arabian Fertilizer Co. (SAFCO) more than doubled its first half net profit to SR474.2 million ($126 million) on increased sales volumes and prices, the company said yesterday. SAFCO, an affiliate of petrochemicals giant SABIC, said sales volume grew 15 percent and the prices of its ammonia and urea products rose 14 and 42 percent respectively. This year’s results compared with SR200.9 million in the first half of 2004, SAFCO said. In the second quarter of this year profits nearly tripled to SR237.8 million from SR84 million in the same period last year, it added.