It’s not been the best of years for Industries Qatar, with second-quarter earnings down 38 percent from the year before. It has now reported five consecutive quarters of falling profits. Not that investors seem to mind; its stock has risen by 21 percent since the beginning of last year. Led by Mohammed Bin Saleh Al Sada — who is also Qatar’s Minister of Energy and Industry — Industries Qatar is the Gulf’s second biggest listed industrial concern, and a major producer of petrochemicals, fertilisers and steel. Among IQ’s subsidiaries are QAPCO, a joint venture between IQ and Total, which focuses on petrochemicals; QAFAC, which makes fuel additives; QAFCO, which produces fertilisers; and Qatar Steel.