JOHANNESBURG, Feb 25 (Reuters) - South African petrochemicals group Sasol SOLJ.J on Monday reported an 18 percent jump in half-year profit on the back of higher crude oil prices, a weaker rand to the U.S. dollar and higher margins in its speciality chemicals unit.
Core headline earnings per share (HEPS) rose to 21.45 rand ($1.54) for the six months ended Dec. 31, 2018 from 18.22 rand in the same period a year earlier.
HEPS is the primary profit gauge in South Africa and strips out certain one-off items. ($1 = 13.9557 rand)