SASOL LIMITED: TRADING STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2026
Rhea-AI Summary
Sasol (JSE:SOL; NYSE:SSL) issued a trading statement for the year ended 30 June 2026, guiding earnings per share of R17,50–R19,50 versus R10,60 in 2025, an increase of 65–84%. Headline EPS is expected at R36–R40 (up 2–14% from R35,13), and adjusted EBITDA at R58–R62 billion, compared with R51,8 billion (up 12–20%).
According to Sasol, higher earnings reflect a 4% sales volume increase, a 7% higher Brent crude price, more than 100% higher refining margins, and lower impairments of R16,8 billion versus R20,7 billion. Offsets include a 7% stronger rand, absence of last year’s R4,3 billion Transnet settlement, unrealised losses of R1,1 billion versus prior gains, continued significant impairments, and higher year-end working capital, which is expected to moderate free cash flow. Final audited 2026 results will be presented on 1 September 2026.
Positive
- EPS expected up 65–84% to R17,50–R19,50
- HEPS expected to rise 2–14% to R36–R40
- Adjusted EBITDA projected at R58–R62 billion, up 12–20%
- Sales volumes up 4% with improved production
- Refining margins more than doubled year-on-year
- Impairments reduced to R16,8 billion from R20,7 billion
Negative
- Stronger rand (7% on average) reduced rand-denominated earnings
- Once-off R4,3 billion Transnet settlement benefited only prior year
- Unrealised losses of R1,1 billion versus R2 billion gains previously
- New impairments on Polyethylene and Mozambique PSA of R7,6 billion
- Higher working capital expected to moderate free cash flow improvement
News Explained
Sasol says the Secunda liquid-fuels refinery cash-generating unit remains fully impaired; all
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 21 | Operating metrics update | Positive | +0.8% | Higher production, sales volumes, margins, and expected adjusted EBITDA supported the update. |
| Apr 23 | Guidance update | Neutral | -2.2% | Revised fuel, gas, and capital expenditure guidance accompanied operational and financing updates. |
| Apr 14 | Debt tender offer | Neutral | -1.4% | The capped tender offer reported early results and a planned April 30 settlement. |
| Apr 10 | Debt refinancing | Positive | +5.5% | The company announced debt retirement and at least $750 million of gross proceeds. |
| Apr 7 | Debt tender offer | Neutral | +9.0% | Tendered debt was accepted while completion remained subject to a financing condition. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Sasol's recent company-news reactions were mixed, with positive and negative outcomes across operating updates, guidance, and financing announcements.
Key Terms
adjusted EBITDA financial
cash generating unit financial
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
- Earnings per share (EPS) is expected to be between R17,50 and R19,50 (prior year EPS of R10,60), representing an increase of between
65% and84% compared to the prior year; - Headline earnings per share (HEPS) is expected to be between R36 and R40 per share (prior year HEPS of R35,13), an increase of between
2% and14% compared to the prior year; and - Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (adjusted EBITDA*) is expected to be between R58 billion and R62 billion (prior year adjusted EBITDA of R51,8 billion), an increase of between
12% and20% compared to the prior year.
The increase in earnings for the year was driven by a combination of management actions and a more supportive macroeconomic environment during the last quarter of the financial year.
- A
4% increase in sales volumes associated with improved production as detailed in the Production and Sales Metrics published on 20 July 2026: https://www.sasol.com/index.php/investor-centre/financial-results; - A
7% increase in the average US$ per barrel Brent crude oil price; - A more than
100% increase in refining margins following improved fuel differentials; and - Lower impairments of R16,8 billion (before tax) (refer summary below), compared to R20,7 billion in the prior year.
The increase in earnings was partially offset by:
- A
7% stronger average Rand/US$ exchange rate; - The once-off Transnet SOC Limited net settlement of R4,3 billion, received in the prior year; and
- Unrealised losses of R1,1 billion on the translation of monetary assets and liabilities, and valuation of financial instruments and derivative contracts compared to unrealised gains of R2 billion in the prior year.
The following is a summary of significant impairments in the current year:
- The Secunda liquid fuels refinery cash generating unit (CGU) remains fully impaired. The recoverable amount improved through management actions but was negatively impacted by a stronger forecast Rand/US$ exchange rate. Further progress of initiatives is required before additional benefits can be reflected in the recoverable amount. The full amount of costs capitalised during the current year of R7,7 billion have been impaired with R3 billion already accounted for in the interim financial statements;
- Impairment of the Polyethylene CGU of R3,7 billion primarily due to a stronger forecast Rand/US$ exchange rate and lower longer-term US$ price assumptions; and
- Impairment of the Production Sharing Agreement development in
Mozambique of R3,9 billion, which was already accounted for in the interim financial statements.
While earnings are expected to improve, higher year-end working capital driven by elevated pricing following the
The financial information underpinning this trading statement has not been audited and reported on by the Company's external auditors.
Sasol will present its 2026 financial results on Tuesday, 1 September 2026 at 11h00 (SA time). This will be followed by a market call, hosted by President and Chief Executive Officer, Simon Baloyi, and Chief Financial Officer, Walt Bruns, to address questions.
Please connect to the call via the webcast link: https://www.corpcam.com/Sasol01092026 or via teleconference call link: choruscall.it
* Adjusted EBITDA is calculated by adjusting operating profit for depreciation, amortisation, share-based payments, remeasurement items, change in discount rates of our rehabilitation provisions, all unrealised translation gains and losses, and all unrealised gains and losses on our derivatives and hedging activities.
Adjusted EBITDA is not a defined term under International Financial Reporting Standards and may not be comparable with similarly titled measures reported by other companies. The aforementioned adjustments are the responsibility of the directors of Sasol. The adjustments have been prepared for illustrative purposes only and due to their nature, may not fairly present Sasol´s financial position, changes in equity, results of operations or cash flows.
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, based on management's current views and assumptions, and which are conditioned upon and also involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results, performance or events to differ materially from those anticipated by such statements. Should one or more of these risks materialise, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, our actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Examples of such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the capital cost of our projects and the timing of project milestones; our ability to obtain financing to meet the funding requirements of our capital investment programme, as well as to fund our ongoing business activities and to pay dividends; statements regarding our future results of operations and financial condition, and regarding future economic performance including cost containment, cash conservation programmes and business optimisation initiatives; our business strategy, performance outlook, plans, objectives or goals; statements regarding future competition, volume growth and changes in market share in the industries and markets for our products; our existing or anticipated investments, acquisitions of new businesses or the disposal of existing businesses, including estimates or projection of internal rates of return and future profitability; our estimated oil, gas and coal reserves; the probable future outcome of litigation, legislative, regulatory and fiscal developments, including statements regarding our ability to comply with future laws and regulations; future fluctuations in refining margins and crude oil, natural gas and petroleum and chemical product prices; the demand, pricing and cyclicality of oil, gas and petrochemical products; changes in the fuel and gas pricing mechanisms in South Africa and their effects on costs and product prices, statements regarding future fluctuations in exchange and interest rates and changes in credit ratings; assumptions relating to macroeconomics, including changes in trade policies, tariffs and sanction regimes; the impact of climate change, our development of sustainability within our businesses, our energy efficiency improvement, carbon and greenhouse gas emission reduction targets, our net zero carbon emissions ambition and future low-carbon initiatives, including relating to green hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel; our estimated carbon tax liability; cyber security; and statements of assumptions underlying such statements.
Words such as "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "seek", "will", "plan", "could", "may", "endeavour", "target", "forecast" and "project" and similar expressions are intended to identify 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. These risks and uncertainties 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 the foregoing 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.
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SOURCE Sasol Limited