Assore Limited - Trading Update

Assore Limited - Trading Update                                                 
Assore Limited                                                                  
(Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa)                                  
(Registration number 1950/037394/06)                                            
Share code:  ASR                                                                
ISIN:  ZAE000017117                                                             
("the Assore group")                                                            
TRADING UPDATE                                                                  
Shareholders are advised that the Assore group has benefited from positive      
market conditions over the past six months both in terms of sales volumes and in
respect of metal prices, particularly for manganese ore and manganese alloys,   
with the result that headline and attributable earnings for the interim period  
to 31 December 2004 are anticipated to be between R189,0 million and R209,0     
million (6 months to 31 December 2003: headline earnings were R23,7 million and 
attributable earnings were R23,8 million).                                      
The above earnings forecast information has not been reviewed or reported on by 
the Assore group"s auditors.                                                    
The interim results for the six months ended 31 December 2004 are expected to be
published by the middle of March 2005.                                          
Illovo                                                                          
Johannesburg                                                                    
18 January 2005                                                                 
Contact details:                                                                
Celine Stemmett                                                                 
Switchboard: (+27 11) 770 6800                                                  
Direct line:  (+27 11) 770 6948                                                 
Email: celinestemmett@assore.com                                                
Sponsor                                                                         
Standard Bank                                                                   
Date: 18/01/2005 01:20:07 PM Supplied by www.sharenet.co.za                     
Produced by the JSE SENS Department