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Sasol Limited - Trading Statement
Sasol Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1979/003231/06)
(ISIN: ZAE000006896)
Share codes:
JSE - SOL
NYSE - SSL
("Sasol")
When Sasol announced its results in September 2005 for the financial year ended
30 June 2005, we commented: "International oil and commodity chemical markets
and prices are unstable and so forecasting these with confidence is not
possible. Nevertheless, assuming no major disruptions in world currency and
energy markets, we anticipate satisfactory growth in earnings in the year
ahead."
During the intervening months, international oil prices have been nearly 25%
higher than anticipated, the Rand: US Dollar exchange rate has been weaker than
expected and pleasing plant efficiencies and operating rates have generally been
achieved. As a result, Sasol"s financial results for the six months ending 31
December 2005 are forecast to be better than anticipated when the previous
public announcement was made.
Although it is premature to comment on attributable earnings for the six months
ending 31 December 2005, headline earnings are expected to be between 65% and
75% higher than those of the comparable previous reporting period (ie six months
ended 31 December 2004).
It is important to note, however, that based on an expectation that
international oil prices will be lower in the second half of the financial year
and that commodity chemical prices and margins will also weaken, earnings growth
for the full financial year is expected to be more in line with the profit
outlook given in September 2005.
Johannesburg
29 November 2005
Issued by sponsor: Deutsche Securities (SA) (Proprietary) Limited
Forward looking statements
We may in this document make statements that are not historical facts and relate
to analyses and other information based on forecasts of future results and
estimates of amounts not yet determinable. These are forward-looking statements
as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words
such as "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "intend", "seek", "will", "plan",
"could", "may", "endeavour" 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 predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking
statements will not be achieved. If one or more of these risks materialize, or
should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may be very
different from those anticipated. The factors that could cause our actual
results to differ materially from the plans, objectives, expectations, estimates
and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements are discussed more
fully in our annual report under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on Form 20-
F filed on October 26, 2005 and in other filings with the United States
Securities and Exchange Commission. 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.
Date: 30/11/2005 08:00:16 AM Produced by the JSE SENS Department
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