SASOL LIMITED: BUSINESS PERFORMANCE METRICS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2025

Rhea-AI Summary

Sasol (SSL) published business performance metrics for the quarter ended 30 September 2025, reporting operational improvement in Southern Africa and International Chemicals and progress on Capital Market Day plans.

Key facts: destoning ramp-up cut average sinks to below 14%, enabling higher coal production; Natref minority owner Prax SA filed for business rescue and Sasol is working to maintain Natref continuity; second low-carbon boiler at Natref was commissioned with a third expected in Q2 FY26. Guidance: Southern Africa breakeven oil price for Q1 FY26 is US$55–60/bbl; International Chemicals is on track for adjusted EBITDA of US$450–550m. The company flagged macro headwinds including tariff changes and noted a fatality at Thubelisha Colliery with an investigation underway.

Positive

• Southern Africa breakeven oil price in Q1 FY26 at US$55–60/bbl
• International Chemicals on track for US$450–550m adjusted EBITDA
• Destoning reduced average sinks to below 14%, enabling higher coal output
• Second low-carbon boiler at Natref commissioned; third due Q2 FY26

Negative

• Fatality at Thubelisha Colliery in September 2025; investigation underway
• Prax SA filed for business rescue affecting Natref minority owner; operational continuity risks
• Macro headwinds and recent tariff changes are impacting financial performance

Insights

Operational Performance Analyst

Sasol reports operational improvements in Q1 FY26 with higher coal and SO production, but a recent mining fatality adds safety risk.

Ramp-up of the destoning plant reduced average sinks to below 14% in Q1 FY26, enabling phased restarts of lower-quality coal sections and higher coal production; improved equipment availability at Secunda Operations (SO) supported the production increase and better operational output at Natref and Sasolburg.

The safety record is mixed: mining achieved its first fatality-free financial year in 2025, yet a fatality occurred at Thubelisha Colliery in September 2025 and an investigation is underway. Operational continuity actions around Natref following Prax SA's business rescue were taken to maintain supply.

Watch operational availability and destoning throughput over the next reporting quarter (Q2 FY26) and monitor the investigation outcomes and any corrective actions; these items will materially affect near-term operational reliability and production continuity.

Commercial & Markets Analyst

Revenue and adjusted EBITDA improved year-over-year in Q1 FY26, while pricing headwinds and tariff changes pose near-term challenges.

International Chemicals saw higher revenue versus the prior quarter driven by margin optimisation, higher US volumes and stronger Eurasia pricing linked to higher PKO levels; this helped revenue and adjusted EBITDA rise significantly versus Q1 FY25. Chemicals Africa volumes matched prior periods but revenue fell due to softer prices. Fuels sales volumes increased and mobility channel share grew.

Management states Southern Africa breakeven oil for Q1 FY26 aligns with guidance of US$55 - 60/bbl and International Chemicals targets adjusted EBITDA of US$450 - 550 million, implying current performance tracks stated targets. Key near-term commercial risks include recent tariff changes and Prax SA business rescue at Natref; monitor published financial metrics and next quarter sales-price trends for confirmation within Q2 FY26.

JOHANNESBURG, Oct. 23, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Sasol has published its business performance metrics for the three months ended 30 September 2025 on the Company´s website at www.sasol.com, under the Investor Centre section: https://www.sasol.com/investor-centre/financial-results.

We continue to make solid progress on the delivery of our Capital Market's Day (CMD) plans to strengthen our foundation business and position Sasol to remain resilient amid ongoing macro volatility, global tariffs and geopolitical tensions. 

Safety

Safety remains our foremost value, and we are firmly committed to improving our safety performance to ensure everyone returns home safely. Mining recorded its first fatality-free financial year in 2025, a milestone that demonstrates meaningful progress. However we regrettably experienced a fatality at the Thubelisha Colliery in September 2025, and the investigation is underway to determine the cause and ensure learnings are implemented to prevent a recurrence of this tragic incident. 

Business performance

In the Southern Africa business, the ramp-up of the destoning plant is progressing to plan, resulting in average sinks for Q1 FY26 reducing below 14%, which has enabled the phased start-up of the previously closed low coal quality sections and increased coal production for the quarter. The successful destoning commissioning activities led to improved coal quality which, together with improved equipment availability at Secunda Operations (SO), resulted in higher SO production for the quarter. 

In addition, both Natref and Sasolburg delivered improved operational performance. Overall sales volumes for Fuels were higher while volumes in the higher-margin mobility channel continued to grow in line with our sales mix optimisation strategy. Chemicals Africa sales volumes were in line with prior year and quarter but revenue was lower due to lower sales prices associated with persistent market softness.  

In the International Chemicals business, revenue increased in Q1 FY26 compared to the previous quarter. This improvement was driven by our self-help margin optimisation initiatives and supported by higher sales volumes in the US and stronger pricing in Eurasia, underpinned by stronger Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) prices. This was partly offset by lower average sales prices in the US due to weaker Base Chemicals pricing and product mix. Revenue and adjusted EBITDA were significantly higher compared to Q1 FY25, reflecting improved unit margins and the continued execution of our commercial and operational excellence initiatives.

Business updates

Strengthen the foundation business:

• As mentioned previously, Sasol was informed in July that State Oil Limited, the UK parent company of Prax South Africa (Pty) Limited (Prax SA), which owns a minority stake in the Natref refinery, was placed under administration. On 22 October 2025, Sasol received a notice confirming that Prax SA has filed for business rescue and business rescue practitioners have been appointed. Sasol has undertaken measures to ensure the Natref refinery operations continue, and supply of products remains uninterrupted. Sasol will liaise with the business rescue practitioners and other stakeholders with the aim to maintain Natref operational continuity.
• The previously communicated mothballing/closure of certain plants is progressing to plan. Clean-up activities have been completed for the Alkylphenol plant in Marl (Germany) and the Guerbet plant in Lake Charles (US) while production at the Phenolics plants in Texas (US) and the HF LAB plant in Augusta (Italy) has been stopped in Q1 FY26.

Grow and Transform:

• In Q1 FY26, the second of three new low-carbon boilers at Natref was successfully commissioned, further improving steam reliability and supporting our decarbonisation objectives. The third boiler is expected to be online in Q2 FY26.

Outlook

Performance across all our business segments remains within market guidance, and we are making good progress towards delivering on our FY26 financial targets.

Specifically, the Southern Africa value chain breakeven oil price for Q1 FY26 is in line with our market guidance of US$55 - 60/bbl, supported by higher production volumes, disciplined cost and capital management. International Chemicals is on track to meet the adjusted EBITDA target of US$450 - 550 million.

Despite good progress in delivering against our operating targets, we continue to face macro-economic headwinds, including recent tariff changes, which are impacting financial performance. As global markets adjust to tariff changes, we are actively assessing potential impacts on our operations, supply chain and pricing strategies, and are engaging with industry partners and policymakers to mitigate impacts. 

We remain focused on what is within our control and delivering on our CMD plans.

For further information, please contact:

Sasol Investor Relations,
Tiffany Sydow, VP Investor Relations
Telephone: +27 (0) 71 673 1929
investor.relations@sasol.com

Disclaimer- Forward-Looking Statements

Sasol may, in this document, make certain statements that are not historical facts that relate to analyses and other information which are based on forecasts of future results and estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These statements may also relate to our future prospects, expectations, developments and business strategies. Words such as "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "seek", "will", "plan", "could", "may", "endeavour", "target", "forecast" and "project" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements but are not the exclusive means of identifying such statements. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and there are risks that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved. If one or more of these risks materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. You should understand that a number of important factors could cause actual results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These factors are discussed more fully in our most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed on 29 August 2025 and in other filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. The list of factors discussed therein is not exhaustive; when relying on forward-looking statements to make investment decisions, you should carefully consider both these factors and other uncertainties and events, and you should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements apply only as of the date on which they are made and we do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Forward looking statements, financial information and targets included in this statement have not been reviewed or reported on by Sasol's auditors.

 

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SOURCE Sasol Limited

FAQ

What did Sasol (SSL) report for the quarter ended 30 September 2025?

Sasol reported operational improvements, destoning sinks below 14%, Natref continuity measures after Prax SA business rescue, and guidance alignment for Q1 FY26.

What is Sasol's Southern Africa breakeven oil price for Q1 FY26 (SSL)?

The Southern Africa value chain breakeven oil price for Q1 FY26 is stated as US$55–60 per barrel.

Is Sasol's International Chemicals segment meeting targets for FY26 (SSL)?

Yes; International Chemicals is reported to be on track to meet an adjusted EBITDA target of US$450–550 million for FY26.

How did Sasol improve coal production in Q1 FY26 (SSL)?

Ramp-up of the destoning plant reduced average sinks to below 14%, enabling phased restart of low-quality sections and higher coal production.

What operational risks did Sasol (SSL) disclose on 23 October 2025?

Sasol disclosed a fatality at Thubelisha Colliery, Prax SA's business rescue affecting Natref minority ownership, and macro headwinds from tariff changes.

What progress has Sasol made on decarbonisation at Natref (SSL)?

Sasol commissioned the second of three new low-carbon boilers at Natref; the third boiler is expected online in Q2 FY26.