HMS Bergbau AG, a leading independent commodities trading and marketing company, announced its preliminary and unaudited financial results for the first half of 2026, revealing a significant surge in revenue and profitability. The company reported revenue of approximately EUR 1.1 billion, marking a 71% increase from EUR 643 million in the same period last year. Adjusted EBITDA reached EUR 14.1 million, while EBITDA including one-off items stood at EUR 22.5 million, compared to EUR 8.3 million in the previous year. These one-off items, totaling EUR 8.4 million, arose from the consolidation of the South African mining company Hoshoza Resources Vryheid.
The strong performance was driven by robust trading activities in bulk products and liquid fuels, with March and April being the most successful months in the company's history in terms of tonnage handled. Additionally, HMS significantly expanded its activities in the metal ores sector, signing an exclusive off-take agreement for the entire chromite ore output from the Langpan mining project in South Africa for a minimum of eight years.
A key milestone in the first half was the start of production at HMS's coal mines in South Africa and Botswana. Both mines are expected to reach full production by the end of 2026 and are poised to make substantial contributions to earnings.
Dennis Schwindt, CEO of HMS Bergbau, commented: "We are very satisfied with our performance in the first half of the year. All business divisions have performed well and are contributing to our growth. Our trading business has performed very well; we were able to more than offset the restrictions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz through increased trading in South-East Asia. We are particularly pleased that our coal mines have started production. Over the course of the rest of this year, we will gradually ramp up production there. We then expect to see corresponding positive contributions to earnings."
The company has confirmed its full-year forecast, expecting revenue to rise to EUR 2 billion, with adjusted EBITDA increasing from EUR 23.1 million in 2025 to EUR 35 million in 2026. The exact extent of further impact from the ongoing activities at Hoshoza Resources Vryheid cannot yet be determined.
The full 2026 half-year report will be available for download from 30 September 2026 on the company's website, www.hms-ag.com, under the Investor Relations section.
