UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form 6-K
REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TO RULE 13a-16 OR
15d-16 UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
Report on Form 6-K for January 26, 2017
Commission File Number 1-31615
Sasol Limited
50 Katherine Street
Sandton 2196
South Africa
(Name and address of registrant's principal executive office)
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will
file annual reports under cover of Form 20-F or Form 40-F.
Form 20-F __X__ Form 40-F _____
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form
6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1): ____
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1) only permits the submission
in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted solely to provide an
attached annual report to security holders.
Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form
6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7): ____
Note: Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7) only permits the submission
in paper of a Form 6-K if submitted to furnish a report or other
document that the registrant foreign private issuer must furnish
and make public under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the
registrant is incorporated, domiciled or legally organized
(the registrant's "home country"), or under the rules of the
home country exchange on which the registrant's securities are
traded, as long as the report or other document is not a press
release, is not required to be and has not been distributed to
the registrant's security holders, and, if discussing a material
event, has already been the subject of a Form 6-K submission or
other Commission filing on EDGAR.
Indicate by check mark whether the registrant by furnishing the
information contained in this Form is also thereby furnishing
the information to the Commission pursuant to Rule 12g3-2(b)
under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
Yes _____ No __X__
If "Yes" is marked, indicate below the file number assigned to
the registrant in connection with Rule 12g3-2(b):
82-_______________.
Enclosures: Trading statement for the six months ended
31 December 2016
Sasol Limited
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)
(Registration number 1979/003231/06)
Sasol Ordinary Share codes: JSE: SOL NYSE: SSL
Sasol Ordinary ISIN codes: ZAE000006896 US8038663006
Sasol BEE Ordinary Share code: JSE: SOLBE1
Sasol BEE Ordinary ISIN code: ZAE000151817
("Sasol" or "the Company")
Trading statement for the six months ended 31 December 2016
Sasol's earnings per share (EPS) for the six months ended
31 December 2016 are expected to increase by between 12% and
22% (approximating R1,44 to R2,63 per share) compared to the
2016 financial half year (prior period) EPS of R11,97.
Headline earnings per share (HEPS) for the same period are
expected to decrease by between 34% and 44%
(approximating R8,26 to R10,68 per share) from the prior
period HEPS of R24,28.
Overall, Sasol delivered a strong business performance across
most of the value chain. Secunda Synfuels' production volumes
increased by 1% and our Eurasian operations increased
production volumes by 8% on the back of stronger product
demand. Natref's production volumes were down 7% mainly due
to planned shutdowns during the period under review.
Normalised sales volumes increased by 11% for our Base
Chemicals business and 2% for our Performance Chemicals
business compared to the prior period mainly on the back of
stronger demand, higher chemical margins and improved plant
stability. Liquid fuels sales volumes decreased by 2% due to
the Natref planned shutdowns and more volumes allocated to the
higher margin yielding chemical businesses. ORYX GTL achieved
a utilization rate of 95% with the run-rate of production in
line with previous market guidance provided. A detailed
production summary and key business performance metrics for
the first half of the 2017 financial year for all our
businesses are available on our website, www.sasol.com.
We have seen a steady and continued recovery in global oil
and product prices during the period under review. Normalised
cash fixed costs continued to trend well within inflation for
the period under review. HEPS was however negatively impacted
by the following items:
* Although the average rand/US dollar exchange rate weakened
by 3% to R13,99 during the period under review, the closing
rand/US dollar exchange rate, however, strengthened to
R13,74 at 31 December 2016 (30 June 2016 - R14,71)
resulting in translation losses of approximately R1,3
billion on the valuation of the balance sheet compared to
translation gains of R2,6 billion, which includes foreign
exchange contracts, recognised in the prior period. The
valuation impact of the stronger closing exchange rate for
the period under review negatively impacted earnings by
approximately R1,46 per share;
* The impact of labour actions at our Secunda mining
operations, during the six month period, resulted in a 16%
decrease in mining production volumes and significantly
higher once-off costs to ensure a continuous supply of coal
to our Secunda Synfuels Operations. The additional net cost
associated with the labour action is estimated at
approximately R1 billion or R1,06 per share; and
* Once-off items in the prior year of R2,3 billion or R3,77
per share relating mainly to the reversal of the Escravos
GTL provision.
Our results for the first half of the 2017 financial year may
be further affected by any adjustments resulting from our half
year-end closure process. This may result in a change in the
estimated earnings noted above. This trading statement only
deals with the comparison to the first half of the 2016
financial year.
The financial information on which this trading statement is
based has not been reviewed and reported on by the Company's
external auditors. Sasol's financial results for the six months
ended 31 December 2016 will be announced on Monday,
27 February 2017.
26 January 2017
Johannesburg
Sponsor: Deutsche Securities (SA) Proprietary Limited
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, developments and business strategies. Examples of
such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to,
statements regarding exchange rate fluctuations, volume growth,
increases in market share, total shareholder return, executing
our growth projects and cost reductions, including in connection
with our Business Performance Enhancement Programme and Response
Plan. 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 27 September 2016 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. 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.
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the registrant, Sasol Limited, has duly caused this
report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized.
Date January 26, 2017 By: /s/ V D Kahla
Name: Vuyo Dominic Kahla
Title: Company Secretary