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South African (JSE) Chemicals Industry Analysis

UpdatedAug 16, 2026
DataAggregated Company Financials
Companies4
  • 7D1.0%
  • 3M-14.4%
  • 1Y67.5%
  • YTD63.3%

In the last week, the Chemicals industry is up 1.0%, with Sasol up 3.7%. During this same period, the AECI underperformed, falling 15%. In the last 12 months, the industry was up 67%. Looking forward, earnings are forecast to grow by 39% annually.

Industry Valuation and Performance

Has the South African Chemicals Industry valuation changed over the past few years?

DateMarket CapRevenueEarningsPEAbsolute PEPS
Sun, 16 Aug 2026R145.9bR306.1bR4.3b20.4x34.1x0.5x
Tue, 14 Jul 2026R144.2bR306.7bR4.2b24.9x34.1x0.5x
Thu, 11 Jun 2026R175.4bR306.7bR4.3b24.7x41.1x0.6x
Sat, 09 May 2026R165.0bR305.7bR4.0b24.1x40.9x0.5x
Mon, 06 Apr 2026R161.3bR305.7bR4.1b22.2x39.7x0.5x
Wed, 04 Mar 2026R119.8bR305.7bR4.1b21.1x29.5x0.4x
Fri, 30 Jan 2026R100.1bR306.4bR8.4b11.4x11.9x0.3x
Sun, 28 Dec 2025R90.4bR306.4bR8.4b10.4x10.7x0.3x
Tue, 25 Nov 2025R95.7bR306.4bR8.4b10.7x11.3x0.3x
Thu, 23 Oct 2025R84.3bR306.1bR8.4b10x10x0.3x
Sat, 20 Sep 2025R98.7bR306.1bR8.4b10.8x11.7x0.3x
Mon, 18 Aug 2025R88.2bR317.9b-R47,629,875,000.0010.7x-1.9x0.3x
Wed, 16 Jul 2025R81.3bR318.2b-R47,763,875,000.0011.5x-1.7x0.3x
Fri, 13 Jun 2025R80.1bR318.2b-R47,763,875,000.0011.6x-1.7x0.3x
Sun, 11 May 2025R63.2bR318.1b-R47,723,875,000.009.6x-1.3x0.2x
Tue, 08 Apr 2025R59.6bR318.1b-R47,723,875,000.009x-1.2x0.2x
Thu, 06 Mar 2025R70.2bR318.1b-R47,723,875,000.009x-1.5x0.2x
Sat, 01 Feb 2025R75.2bR335.4b-R42,238,675,000.009.3x-1.8x0.2x
Mon, 30 Dec 2024R74.2bR335.4b-R42,238,675,000.0010.3x-1.8x0.2x
Wed, 27 Nov 2024R81.6bR335.4b-R42,238,675,000.0010.2x-1.9x0.2x
Fri, 25 Oct 2024R88.8bR334.9b-R42,240,675,000.009.2x-2.1x0.3x
Sun, 22 Sep 2024R97.9bR334.9b-R42,240,675,000.008.9x-2.3x0.3x
Tue, 20 Aug 2024R109.6bR335.9bR5.8b12.4x18.8x0.3x
Thu, 18 Jul 2024R107.9bR336.7bR6.2b9.5x17.4x0.3x
Sat, 15 Jun 2024R94.2bR336.7bR6.2b8.7x15.2x0.3x
Mon, 13 May 2024R107.1bR339.3bR6.2b8.8x17.4x0.3x
Wed, 10 Apr 2024R128.9bR339.3bR6.2b8.8x20.9x0.4x
Fri, 08 Mar 2024R114.5bR339.3bR6.2b8.8x18.6x0.3x
Sun, 04 Feb 2024R122.8bR353.8bR10.9b10.6x11.3x0.3x
Tue, 02 Jan 2024R140.5bR353.8bR10.9b10.9x12.9x0.4x
Thu, 30 Nov 2023R158.0bR353.8bR10.9b10.5x14.5x0.4x
Sat, 28 Oct 2023R178.0bR355.5bR10.9b10.8x16.3x0.5x
Mon, 25 Sep 2023R178.9bR355.5bR10.9b11.2x16.3x0.5x
Wed, 23 Aug 2023R171.4bR373.3bR40.7b7.6x4.2x0.5x
Price to Earnings Ratio

4.2x


Total Market Cap: R171.4bTotal Earnings: R40.7bTotal Revenue: R373.3bTotal Market Cap vs Earnings and Revenue0%0%0%
South African Chemicals Industry Price to Earnings3Y Average 12.5x202420252026
Current Industry PE
  • Investors are optimistic on the South African Chemicals industry, and appear confident in long term growth rates.
  • The industry is trading at a PE ratio of 34.1x which is higher than its 3-year average PE of 12.5x.
  • The industry is trading close to its 3-year average PS ratio of 0.34x.
Past Earnings Growth
  • The earnings for companies in the Chemicals industry have declined 53% per year over the last three years,
  • Revenues have also declined 6.4% per year.
  • This means overall sales from these companies are declining and profits are subsequently falling as well.

Industry Trends

Which industries have driven the changes within the South African Materials industry?

ZA Market-2.71%
Materials-1.63%
Chemicals1.01%
Diversified Chemicals2.59%
Commodity Chemicals1.23%
Specialty Chemicals-14.65%
Industry PE
  • Investors are most optimistic about the Diversified Chemicals industry which is trading above its 3-year average PE ratio of 13.0x.
    • Analysts are expecting annual earnings growth of 39.1%, which is higher than its past year's earnings growth of 22.8% per year.
  • Investors are most pessimistic about the Commodity Chemicals industry, which is trading below its 3-year average of 8.3x.
Forecasted Growth
  • Analysts are most optimistic on the Specialty Chemicals industry, expecting annual earnings growth of 43% over the next 5 years.
  • This is better than its past earnings decline of 6.1% per year.
  • In contrast, the Diversified Chemicals industry is expected to see its earnings grow by 39% per year over the next few years.

Top Stock Gainers and Losers

Which companies have driven the market over the last 7 days?

CompanyLast Price7D1YValuation
SOL SasolR186.433.7%
+R4.2b		87.3%PE49.2x
BCF Bowler MetcalfR13.971.2%
+R11.6m		0.7%PE7.3x

Latest News

AFE
R106.60
AECI
7D
-14.7%
1Y
-2.0%
OMN
R100.10
Omnia Holdings
7D
-5.1%
1Y
34.0%
SOL
R186.43
Sasol
7D
3.7%
1Y
87.3%
Narrative Update • Jul 30

SOL: Higher Margins And Lower Future P/E Will Pressure Returns

Analysts have increased their price target for Sasol by ZAR5 to ZAR160, reflecting updated assumptions that include a slightly lower implied future P/E multiple and a higher expected profit margin, even as projected revenue growth is marked a little lower. What’s in the News for Sasol Public Investment Corporation Limited, a major institutional investor, acquired an additional 5.14% stake in Sasol Limited on July 13, 2026.
BCF
R13.97
Bowler Metcalf
7D
1.2%
1Y
0.7%
Analysis Article • Jun 04

Here's Why Bowler Metcalf (JSE:BCF) Has Caught The Eye Of Investors

It's common for many investors, especially those who are inexperienced, to buy shares in companies with a good story...