South Africa’s Tongaat Hulett increased half-year profit by 5%
South Africa’s Tongaat Hulett reported a 5% rise in half-year profit, boosted by recovered production after a two-year drought.
It is reported by Moneyweb.
Diluted headline earnings per share — the main profit measure in South Africa — rose to 573,8 cents per share in the six months ended Sept. 30 compared with 546,7 for the same period the previous year.
Sugar output volumes have started to recover after the lengthy drought but gains were offset by lower world sugar prices and high imports into South Africa.
Tongaat Hulett expects to increase its share of regional sugar production to 26% in 2017/18, from 22% in the previous season.
An El Nino-induced drought in southern Africa, which led to the driest year on record in 2015, crippled production of maize, sugar and other agricultural products.