9. Inventories
 
  Group
R'000 2025 2024
Raw materials 795 090 611 441
Finished goods 974 740 1 073 068
Consumable stores 128 779 109 983
1 898 609 1 794 492

The cost of inventories recognised as an expense and included in the cost of sales amounted to R1 759 million (2024: R3 645 million), which is a decrease from the prior year due to the lower volumes of ferrochrome sold partially offset by higher cost of production. Refer to note 21. No inventories were encumbered during the year.

For the year ended 31 December 2025, inventory was written down to its net realisable value due to low commodity prices at the reporting date, resulting in a loss of R4 milllion (2024: R79 million). Refer to note 21.