In its latest audited results report, the group reported a 6% increase in revenue to R24,2 billion, supported by higher sales volumes across key markets. Operating profit rose 28% to R2,2 billion, lifting the operating margin to 9%, while headline earnings per share increased 21% to 849c.
Cash generation remained robust, with Omnia maintaining a net cash position of R1,7 billion compared with R1,8 billion for the previous financial year, reflecting strong operational performance and tight working capital control. Return on equity improved from 10,9% to 12,9%.
The board declared a total dividend of 750c/share, including an ordinary dividend of 470c/share and a special dividend of 280c/share, returning R1,2 billion to shareholders. Since its turnaround in 2020, the group has returned R6,8 billion to shareholders in dividends and share repurchases.
Speaking to Farmer’s Weekly, Group Financial Director Stephan Serfontein said the results reflected “disciplined execution in a complex operating environment”, with both agriculture and mining delivering robust earnings, margins, and cash generation despite volatility in global input markets and weather-related disruptions.
Agricultural performance
Agriculture revenue increased by 13% to R13,1 billion, while operating profit rose by 28% to R1,3 billion. Operating margin improved from 8,5% to 9,6%, driven by strong volumes in South Africa and a recovery in the Rest of Africa.
South African net revenue increased by 8,3% to just over R9,4 million due to higher volumes and higher average prices. Operating profit, however, decreased by 4,7% to R844 million due to lower manufacturing recoveries as a result of an extended supplier shutdown in the first half of 2026 and a non-recurring asset sale in the previous year. Operating margins decreased to 8,9%.
Rest of Africa operations showed a marked recovery. Net revenue increased by 34,1% to R2,96 million, with a strong recovery in volumes and gross profit in Zambia and Zimbabwe. Operating profit for the year increased from R62 million to R260 million, while operating margins increased from 2,8% to 8,8%.
Serfontein ascribed the improved performance to enhanced trading conditions, stronger economic activity, better input availability, and the appreciation of the Zambian Kwacha.
Internationally, Omnia’s agriculture segment delivered a mixed performance, with net revenue increasing by 6% to R655 million, while operating profit decreased by 6,4% to R147 million. Year-on-year, operating margins decreased from 25,4% to 22,4%.
Serfontein said strong growth in biostimulant exports, including to China, together with higher production volumes in Australia, helped offset currency volatility and weaker results in Brazil. The group also reported increased volumes in the US as it transitions towards a more scalable distribution model.
Mining and chemicals
Mining revenue increased by 8% to R9,8 billion, with operating profit up 1% to R1,1 billion, reflecting resilient demand in iron ore and platinum markets, partially offset by weaker coal and diamond markets and input cost pressures. Operating margin remained within the segment’s medium-term guidance range, despite decreasing from 12,4% to 11,7%.
Chemicals’ net revenue decreased by 38,3% to around R1,3 million, driven primarily by product line rationalisation. Despite this, the segment returned to profitability, generating an operating profit of R4 million compared with a loss of R133 million in the previous financial year, while operating margin increased from -6,2% to 0,3%.
The outlook for Omnia
Despite ongoing volatility in global fertiliser markets, Serfontein said Omnia’s integrated manufacturing and supply chain capabilities remain a key competitive advantage, ensuring security of supply to customers amid geopolitical disruptions and logistics constraints.
“Our diversified sourcing strategy and local production capacity will help to mitigate against disruption in global fertiliser supply chains, particularly linked to geopolitical tensions affecting key shipping routes,” he explained.
For farmers, a key takeaway from the results is the continued shift in how fertiliser and crop nutrition decisions are being made under pressure from input costs and volatile commodity prices.
Serfontein said farmers are increasingly being pushed to move away from blanket cost-cutting approaches and towards precision-driven nutrient management strategies. He noted that while cutting inputs may appear attractive under margin pressure, it can ultimately reduce yields and worsen financial outcomes.
According to him, Omnia’s Nutriology model, which combines soil and leaf analysis with satellite imaging and advisory support, is increasingly central to helping farmers optimise input use rather than simply reduce it.
Climate variability remains an increasingly important factor in agricultural planning. Serfontein said that while extreme weather patterns remain a concern, the potential return of an El Niño-related dryness towards the end of the year is currently less alarming, as soil moisture levels are relatively high and sufficient to carry most farmers through the coming season, even if conditions become drier.
He said the key uncertainty is whether these favourable moisture conditions will persist into the following production season.
Serfontein noted that Omnia is cautiously optimistic about the agricultural outlook, supported by favourable structural demand in both agriculture and mining, ongoing international expansion, and continued investment in technology-led customer solution
