SASOL LIMITED: TRADING STATEMENT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 JUNE 2025
Rhea-AI Summary
Sasol Limited (NYSE:SSL) has released its trading statement for the year ended June 30, 2025, announcing significant earnings improvements. The company expects Earnings Per Share (EPS) to increase by over 100% to between R7.00 and R12.00, compared to the prior year's loss of R69.94. Headline Earnings Per Share (HEPS) is projected to rise 85-100% to R33.60-R36.30.
However, Adjusted EBITDA is expected to decrease by 10-17% to R50-54 billion. The improved earnings were driven by higher chemical prices, lower impairments of R20.7 billion (vs R74.9 billion prior year), and a R4.3 billion settlement from Transnet. These gains were partially offset by a 15% decline in average Rand per barrel oil prices and a 3% decrease in sales volumes.
Positive
- None.
Negative
- Adjusted EBITDA expected to decrease by 10-17% to R50-54B
- 15% decline in average Rand per barrel Brent crude oil price
- 3% decrease in sales volumes due to lower production/market demand
- R13.1B impairment of costs capitalized for Secunda and Sasolburg refineries
- R4.4B impairment of Mozambique assets due to higher country risk premium
- R3.2B impairment of Italy Care Chemicals CGU due to lower sales margins
News Market Reaction
On the day this news was published, SSL gained 12.29%, reflecting a significant positive market reaction. Argus tracked a peak move of +8.2% during that session. Our momentum scanner triggered 30 alerts that day, indicating elevated trading interest and price volatility. This price movement added approximately $378M to the company's valuation, bringing the market cap to $3.45B at that time.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
In terms of paragraph 3.4(b)(i) of the Listing Requirement of the JSE Limited, stakeholders are advised that, for the year ended 30 June 2025:
- Earnings per share (EPS) is expected to increase by more than
100% compared to the prior year, to between R7,00 and R12,00 (prior year loss per share of R69,94); and - Headline earnings per share (HEPS) is expected to increase by between
85% and100% compared to the prior year, to be between R33,60 and R36,30 (prior year HEPS of R18,19); and
Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (adjusted EBITDA*) is expected to decrease by between
The increase in earnings for the year was supported by management actions and driven by:
- An increase in the average chemicals basket prices and strict cost control;
- Significantly lower impairments of R20,7 billion (before tax) (summary below), compared to R74,9 billion in the prior year;
- The derecognition of deferred tax asset in the prior year of R15,3 billion, mainly relating to an assessed loss carry forward on our Chemicals America operations which is not anticipated to be utilised;
- Transnet SOC Limited net cash settlement of R4,3 billion (before tax); and
- Reduction in asset rehabilitation provision of R2,9 billion in the current year compared to a reduction of R0,8 billion in the prior year;
The increase in earnings was partially offset by:
- A
15% decline in the average Rand per barrel of Brent crude oil price as well as a significant decline in refining margins and fuel price differentials; - A
3% decrease in sales volumes associated with lower production and/or lower market demand as detailed in the Production and Sales Metrics published on 22 July 2025, which can be found on our website: https://www.sasol.com/index.php/investor-centre/financial-results; and - Lower unrealised gains of R2 billion on the translation of monetary assets and liabilities, and valuation of financial instruments and derivative contracts compared to unrealised gains of R4,7 billion in the prior year.
The following is a summary of significant impairments and reversal of impairment in the current year:
- The Secunda and Sasolburg liquid fuels refinery cash generating units (CGU) remain fully impaired. The recoverable amount improved through management actions but was negatively impacted by lower forecast macro-economic assumptions. Additional management initiatives need to be further progressed before the benefits can be incorporated in the impairment calculations. Costs capitalised during the current year of R13,1 billion have been impaired;
- Impairment of the Production Sharing Agreement (PSA) and PT5-C exploration assets in
Mozambique of R4,4 billion, driven by an increase in the weighted average cost of capital (WACC) attributable to independently calculated higher country risk premium. The PSA was also impacted by a marginal reduction in estimated gas volumes, as well as lower sales prices of oil related products; - Impairment of Italy Care Chemicals CGU of R3,2 billion, driven by lower for longer forecast sales margins. The CGU is fully impaired; and
- Reversal of impairment of the China Care Chemicals CGU of R1 billion following a sustained improvement in the business results.
The financial information underpinning this trading statement has not been reviewed and reported on by the Company's external auditors.
Sasol will present its 2025 financial results on Monday, 25 August 2025 at 09h00 (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/Sasol25082025 or via teleconference call link: https://services.choruscall.eu/DiamondPassRegistration/register?confirmationNumber=3605690&linkSecurityString=89ae33f44
* 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 and 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. 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; recent and proposed accounting pronouncements and their impact on our future results of operations and financial condition; 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 product prices; changes in the fuel and gas pricing mechanisms in