Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is maintained as "Positive" [5] Core Viewpoints - The PVC industry is expected to undergo continuous revaluation due to its high energy consumption and carbon emissions, particularly as China approaches its carbon peak during the 14th Five-Year Plan. The supply side may face strict controls, leading to potential reductions in production quotas. The demand for PVC in developing regions such as Africa and Latin America is anticipated to drive growth, despite the challenges posed by domestic production constraints [2][7] - The petrochemical industry is experiencing an upward trend in profitability, driven by significant price increases in key products such as butadiene rubber, PX, PTA, styrene, and ethylene glycol. The market's expectations for improved demand in 2026 are contributing to this positive outlook, with potential adjustments in operational strategies by leading companies likely to reshape supply and demand dynamics [7] Summary by Relevant Sections Investment Suggestions and Targets - The report recommends several companies across various sub-sectors, including: - MDI leader: Wanhua Chemical (600309, Buy) - PVC-related companies: Zhongtai Chemical (002092, Not Rated), Xinjiang Tianye (600075, Not Rated), Chlor-alkali Chemical (600618, Not Rated), Tianyuan Co., Ltd. (002386, Not Rated) - Refining sector leaders: Sinopec (600028, Buy), Rongsheng Petrochemical (002493, Buy), Hengli Petrochemical (600346, Buy) - Phosphate chemical companies benefiting from energy storage growth: Chuanheng Co., Ltd. (002895, Not Rated), Yuntianhua (600096, Not Rated) - Oxalic acid sector: Hualu Hengsheng (600426, Buy), Huayi Group (600623, Buy), Wankai New Materials (301216, Buy) [3]

Group 1 - The article highlights the top 20 stocks in the S&P China A-Share Dividend Opportunity Index (CSPSADRP) based on their daily and year-to-date performance as of January 21, 2026 [1][5] - Weichai Power (000338.SZ) leads with a daily increase of 4.44% and a year-to-date increase of 31.16%, with a dividend yield of 3.25% [1][5] - Other notable performers include Daimei Co. (603730.SH) with a daily increase of 4.17% and a year-to-date increase of 22.72%, and Jiufeng Energy (605090.SH) with a daily increase of 3.63% and a year-to-date increase of 14.69% [1][5] Group 2 - The overall dividend yield for the index is reported at 4.76%, with a price-to-book ratio of 1.34 times and a historical price-to-earnings ratio of 11.75 times, while the expected price-to-earnings ratio is 11.07 times [2] - The data is sourced from the Shanghai Stock Exchange and reflects the closing prices as of January 21, 2026, with the dividend yield calculated up to January 20, 2026 [2]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article is that the chemical industry is experiencing a cyclical recovery driven by new demand, with the sustainability of this cycle being a key question for market participants [1][12] - The chemical price index (CCPI) has dropped nearly 40% from its peak in 2021, currently sitting at a historical percentile of just over 20% [1] - The profit margin for the chemical raw materials and products industry is projected to be just over 4% in the first three quarters of 2025, indicating that the industry is still near the bottom of its profit cycle [1] Group 2 - The first signal of recovery is seen in specific products like potassium chloride and lithium carbonate, with companies like Salt Lake Potash showing significant profit increases despite overall declines in production and sales [3][4] - The second signal comes from a contraction in corporate investment behavior, with capital expenditures for petrochemical companies declining by 18.3% and 10.1% in 2024 and the first three quarters of 2025, respectively [5] - The third signal is the shift in market expectations, with the scale of chemical ETFs increasing from 2.5 billion to 25.7 billion, indicating a recovery in investor sentiment [6] Group 3 - The article discusses the global shift in chemical production from high-cost regions like Europe and Japan to lower-cost regions like China, which is filling the gap left by closures in Europe [8][9] - The domestic market is also undergoing a transition from "involution" to "anti-involution," with regulatory measures aimed at reducing low-price competition and promoting quality improvements [10] - Specific examples of product price recovery include organic silicon and polyurethane, where leading companies are collaborating to stabilize prices [11] Group 4 - New demand drivers include the second wave of growth in the renewable energy sector, with significant increases in battery production expected, which will impact the lifecycle of traditional chemical products [12][13] - Innovations driven by AI, semiconductors, and robotics are creating new material demands, with companies transitioning to higher-value products in electronic chemicals and lubricants [14] - The negative impact of old demand is diminishing, leading to a more stable recovery in the chemical sector, characterized by a "slow bull" market rather than rapid fluctuations [15]

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is maintained as "Overweight" [2] Core Viewpoints - The demand for yellow phosphorus is expected to improve due to growth in downstream phosphoric acid and terminal materials for new energy, electronic-grade phosphoric acid, and fine phosphates. The high prices of sulfur and sulfuric acid are enhancing the cost competitiveness of thermal phosphoric acid over wet phosphoric acid, which may further boost the demand for thermal process phosphoric acid and yellow phosphorus [5][6] - The supply of yellow phosphorus is strictly controlled in China due to high energy consumption and environmental safety concerns, with only limited new capacity being added through capacity replacement. The dual carbon policy may lead to the elimination of high-energy-consuming existing capacity, which is expected to optimize the supply side [6][7] - The average operating rate of the domestic yellow phosphorus industry is projected to reach approximately 63% in 2025, the highest level since 2017, driven by favorable supply and demand dynamics. The price of yellow phosphorus is showing an upward trend, with a reference price of around 23,000 yuan per ton as of January 19, 2025, reflecting a 2.4% increase from the end of 2025 [7][5] Summary by Sections Demand and Supply Dynamics - The demand for yellow phosphorus is projected to grow by 26% year-on-year in 2024, reaching 850,000 tons, while phosphoric acid consumption is expected to increase by 19% to 2.96 million tons. The five-year CAGR for yellow phosphorus and phosphoric acid is estimated at 5% and 12%, respectively [5][6] - The high prices of sulfur and sulfuric acid, which have reached nearly a decade high, are expected to drive the demand for thermal phosphoric acid and yellow phosphorus. The cost advantage of thermal phosphoric acid over wet phosphoric acid is becoming more pronounced, especially considering the offset from by-products [5][6] Supply Constraints - The domestic yellow phosphorus capacity has decreased from 1.9 million tons in 2013 to 1.41 million tons in 2020, with a slight recovery to 1.58 million tons by the end of 2025, primarily due to capacity replacement. Only ten companies have a capacity of 50,000 tons or more, indicating a highly concentrated industry [6][39] - The dual carbon policy is expected to continue limiting new supply, with high-energy-consuming and inefficient capacities facing elimination pressure [6][7] Price Trends and Market Outlook - The average operating rate for yellow phosphorus is expected to improve, with a projected increase in monthly operating rates throughout 2025. The price of yellow phosphorus is anticipated to be supported by potential supply disruptions and increasing demand from new energy and electronic chemical sectors [7][5] - Companies with integrated operations in the yellow phosphorus value chain, including mining, yellow phosphorus production, and phosphoric acid, are expected to benefit significantly from the favorable market conditions [5][7]

Core Viewpoint - The chemical industry is experiencing a collective shift in business strategies driven by multiple factors, leading to a recovery in industry prosperity [1] Group 1: Industry Trends - The long-standing focus on market share in China's chemical industry is being transformed, with companies now facing increased barriers to entry due to supply-side reforms, environmental checks, and dual carbon goals [1] - Internal policy adjustments and external anti-dumping investigations are signaling a necessary change in the expectations surrounding market share [2] Group 2: Business Strategy Shifts - Companies are moving towards sacrificing existing market share to enhance short-term return rates, as merely halting expansion is no longer sufficient to address inventory and excess capacity [2] - The change in business strategies is primarily driven by shifts in the mindset of entrepreneurs and management, marking a significant departure from previous industry recovery patterns [2] Group 3: Selection Criteria for Investment - The preferred selection criteria for the industry include the strength of expansion constraints and the depth of leading companies' advantages, with stronger constraints leading to lower expectations for market share-driven growth [3] - The depth of leading companies' advantages not only constrains industry expansion but also determines the potential recovery in industry return rates [3] Group 4: Investment Recommendations - Recommended investment opportunities include: - MDI: Wanhua Chemical (600309) - Petrochemicals: Sinopec (600028), Rongsheng Petrochemical (002493), Hengli Petrochemical (600346) - Phosphate Chemicals: Chuanheng Shares (002895), Yuntianhua (600096), Xingfa Group (600141) - PVC: Zhongtai Chemical (002092), Xinjiang Tianye (600075), Chlor-alkali Chemical (600618), Tianyuan Shares (002386) - Polyester Bottle Chips: Wankai New Materials (301216) [4]

Core Viewpoint - The report highlights the current trends in the chemical industry, focusing on price movements, supply and demand dynamics, and investment opportunities in undervalued leading companies amid a backdrop of geopolitical tensions and changing market conditions [1][4][8]. Industry Dynamics - In the week of January 12-18, 49 out of 100 tracked chemical products saw price increases, while 20 experienced declines, and 31 remained stable. The average monthly price of 49% of products rose compared to the previous month [3]. - The average price of WTI crude oil futures increased by 0.54% to $59.44 per barrel, while Brent crude oil futures rose by 0.66% to $63.76 per barrel during the same week [4]. - As of January 9, U.S. crude oil production averaged 13.753 million barrels per day, a decrease of 58,000 barrels from the previous week but an increase of 272,000 barrels year-on-year. Total U.S. oil demand was 21.009 million barrels per day, up by 178,200 barrels from the previous week [4]. Price Movements - The price of butadiene rose by 4.04% to 9,663 yuan per ton as of January 18, with a month-on-month increase of 25.98% but a year-on-year decrease of 20.8%. The production of butadiene was 109,300 tons, down 2.85% from the previous week [5]. - Epoxy propane prices increased by 8.84% to 8,620 yuan per ton, with a year-on-year rise of 9.88%. The market operating rate was 65.38%, reflecting a 1.51% increase from the previous week [6][7]. Investment Recommendations - As of January 18, the price-to-earnings ratio (TTM) for the SW basic chemical sector is 14.68, at the 59.64% historical percentile, while the price-to-book ratio is 1.54, at the 40.20% historical percentile. The SW oil and petrochemical sector has a TTM P/E ratio of 13.44, at the 39.81% historical percentile [8]. - Investment suggestions include focusing on undervalued leading companies, the impact of "anti-involution" on supply in related sub-industries, and the growing importance of self-sufficiency in electronic materials and certain new energy materials amid rising prices [2][8]. - Recommended stocks include Wanhua Chemical, Hualu Hengsheng, and others, with a focus on sectors like semiconductor materials, OLED materials, and new energy materials [8][9].

Core Insights - The article presents the top 20 stocks in the S&P China A-Share Dividend Opportunity Index (CSPSADRP) based on their daily and year-to-date performance as of January 15, 2026, highlighting significant gainers and their dividend yields [1][5]. Group 1: Stock Performance - The top performer is Aotewi (688516.SH) with a daily increase of 8.15% and a year-to-date increase of 32.30%, along with a dividend yield of 3.80% [1][5]. - Weichai Power (000338.SZ) ranks second with a daily rise of 4.18% and a year-to-date increase of 17.44%, offering a dividend yield of 3.62% [1][5]. - Action Education (605098.SH) follows with a daily gain of 4.01% and a year-to-date increase of 11.71%, featuring a dividend yield of 5.02% [1][5]. Group 2: Dividend Yields - The highest dividend yield among the top 20 stocks is from Jichuan Pharmaceutical (600566.SH) at 7.99%, with a daily increase of 1.57% and a year-to-date increase of 0.84% [1][5]. - Other notable dividend yields include Oppein Home (603833.SH) at 6.85% and Qianjiang Motorcycle (000913.SZ) at 5.67% [1][5]. Group 3: Market Trends - The article notes the formation of a MACD golden cross signal, indicating a positive trend in the stock market, particularly for the highlighted stocks [4][8].

Group 1 - The chemical sector is leading the market gains, with the basic chemical sector showing the highest increase among 30 CITIC primary industries, reflecting a 0.99% rise in the chemical ETF (516020) [1] - Key stocks in the sector include rubber additives and phosphorus chemicals, with notable performances from Tongcheng New Materials, which hit the daily limit, and Hongda Co., which rose over 5% [1][2] - The overall market sentiment indicates a strong rebound in the chemical sector, driven by significant orders from leading lithium battery manufacturers, with expectations of substantial growth in lithium battery production capacity by 2026 [2][3] Group 2 - Industry analysts predict that the chemical industry's profitability is likely to recover in 2026 after experiencing a downturn in 2025, with a new phase of supply-demand rebalancing beginning [3] - The chemical ETF (516020) tracks the CSI segmented chemical industry theme index, with nearly 50% of its holdings concentrated in large-cap leading stocks, providing investors with opportunities to capitalize on the sector's rebound [3] - The ETF includes exposure to various themes such as AI computing, anti-involution policies, and new energy, which are expected to drive growth in the chemical sector [3]

Group 1 - The chemical materials and fine chemicals sectors experienced a strong rally, with the CSI sub-index for the chemical industry rising by 2.11% as of 10:36 AM on January 15, 2026, with notable stock performances including Hongda Co. up 8.95%, Guangdong Hongda up 6.06%, and Yuntianhua up 4.64% [1] - Since 2021, high prices of chemical products have led to increased capital expenditures by petrochemical and chemical companies, initiating a new round of capacity expansion. However, from 2022 onwards, as new capacities were released and oil prices fell from their peaks, many chemical product prices have continued to decline, resulting in decreased profitability for some companies [1] - Starting in 2024, most chemical product prices are stabilizing at the bottom, and while corporate profitability remains under pressure, the introduction of growth stabilization plans is expected to lead to the elimination of some outdated capacities, improving the overall supply-demand dynamics in the industry and enhancing product profitability [1] Group 2 - Guohai Securities suggests that the anti-involution policy may lead to a re-evaluation of the Chinese chemical industry, with a significant slowdown in global capacity expansion expected. The Chinese chemical industry has ample net cash flow from operating activities, and the slowdown in capacity expansion is likely to enhance potential dividend yields, shifting the industry from a capital-consuming model to a profit-returning one [1] - The optimization of the supply side is anticipated to drive a recovery in industry sentiment, with chemical stocks exhibiting high elasticity and dividend advantages [1] - As of December 31, 2025, the top ten weighted stocks in the CSI sub-index for the chemical industry accounted for 45.31% of the index, including companies like Wanhua Chemical and Yanhua Co. [2]

Core Viewpoint - The chemical ETF Tianhong (159133) has seen significant inflows and performance, reflecting a positive outlook for the chemical industry as it undergoes structural changes and optimization [2][3]. Group 1: ETF Performance - As of January 14, the chemical ETF Tianhong (159133) reached a new high with a total size of 843 million yuan and 735 million shares outstanding [2]. - The ETF has experienced continuous net inflows over the past 11 days, accumulating a total of 233 million yuan [2]. Group 2: Industry Trends - The Ministry of Finance announced the cancellation of the 13% export tax rebate on PVC powder starting April 1, 2026, which is expected to increase export costs by approximately 75 USD per ton. This may lead to a short-term surge in exports and a long-term shift towards high-value products and overseas capacity [2]. - The chemical industry is currently at a historical low point, with a shift from capacity expansion to optimization driven by "anti-involution" policies. Key sectors such as coal chemical, organic silicon, and pesticides are expected to see a supply-demand reversal [3]. Group 3: Investment Opportunities - Leading companies in the chemical sector are anticipated to benefit from the ongoing exit of low-efficiency capacity and the transition to high-value products, with potential profit recovery expected [3]. - Sub-industries with resource attributes or technical barriers, such as phosphorus chemicals and refrigerants, may present opportunities for value reassessment [3].