Zhong Guo Neng Yuan Wang·2025-07-15 06:02Core Viewpoint - The petrochemical industry is expected to experience improved profit margins for refining companies due to a decline in oil prices and enhanced cost optimization, particularly for private refining enterprises like Zhejiang Petrochemical and Hengli Petrochemical [1][2]. Group 1: Industry Outlook - The oil price is projected to decline in the first half of 2025, leading to a decrease in the price center, which will positively impact the price spread of chemical products, especially olefins [1][2]. - The theoretical net profit for Zhejiang Petrochemical is estimated at approximately 53 billion, 107 billion, and 138 billion yuan under oil prices of 80, 70, and 60 USD respectively, while Hengli Petrochemical's theoretical net profit is estimated at 16 billion, 45 billion, and 70 billion yuan under the same conditions [1][2]. - The refining industry is entering a phase of stock competition due to a slowdown in supply-side growth, with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) controlling crude oil processing capacity to remain under 1 billion tons by 2025 [3]. Group 2: Demand and Consumption - The demand for chemical products is expected to maintain a steady but weak recovery, with an average annual growth rate of about 3%-4% for domestic chemical oil demand from 2025 to 2026 [4]. - The consumption of polyethylene is projected to grow at a rate of 1-4% from 2025 to 2030, while the aromatics sector may see a recovery due to downstream capacity expansion [5]. Group 3: Financial Performance and Investment Value - The private refining sector is expected to benefit from cost optimization due to falling coal prices, with estimated reductions in coal costs for Hengli Petrochemical and Zhejiang Petrochemical of approximately 11.74 million and 8.24 million yuan respectively [2]. - The overall debt ratio of companies is expected to decrease by 5%, leading to a financial cost optimization of about 9-12 million yuan [5]. - The long-term investment value of private refining companies is highlighted, as their current valuation is believed to be lower than the intrinsic value of their refining assets [5]. Group 4: Investment Recommendations - The industry is recommended to focus on private refining leaders with significant scale advantages and a diversified product portfolio, such as Hengli Petrochemical and Rongsheng Petrochemical [6].