国信证券：化工行业“内卷式”竞争问题突出 关注同质化领域供给侧变革机遇

Core Viewpoint - The petrochemical industry is currently facing significant "involution" competition, leading to a widespread dilemma of increasing production without increasing profits, with the industry's operating revenue profit margin declining from 8.03% in 2021 to 4.85% in 2024, and remaining low in the first half of 2025 [1] Group 1: Industry Challenges - The low-quality and homogeneous competition is primarily due to excessive investment and repeated construction, resulting in product homogenization, along with local governments' blind investment promotion exacerbating overcapacity [1] - The central government has proposed comprehensive rectification requirements to address these issues, including strengthening self-discipline, promoting innovation, and eliminating non-compliant capacity based on energy efficiency and environmental standards [2] Group 2: Policy Developments - The chemical industry has seen a gradual deepening of anti-involution policies this year, with significant measures introduced such as the "National Unified Market Construction Guidelines" aimed at curbing repeated construction and market segmentation [2] - In June, a joint notice was issued by five ministries to assess old facilities in the refining and fertilizer sectors, focusing on safety, environmental protection, and energy efficiency to promote the exit of inefficient capacity [2] Group 3: Market Outlook - The industry is expected to see opportunities for supply-side reforms in areas with significant homogeneous competition, such as refining and certain pesticide varieties, as state-owned enterprises control capacity and new project approvals are restricted [3] - By August 2025, a recovery in overseas demand for certain chemical products and further domestic demand growth is anticipated, with a focus on investment in sectors with improved supply-demand dynamics and scarce resource attributes, particularly electronic resins [4] Group 4: Price Trends - As of July 2025, the China Chemical Product Price Index (CCPI) reported a decline of 5.6% from the beginning of the year, indicating a slight decrease in the prices of major chemical products [3] - International crude oil prices showed an upward trend in July, with Brent crude rising from $67.11 to $73.24 per barrel, influenced by geopolitical tensions and seasonal fuel consumption [4] Group 5: Sector-Specific Insights - The electronic resin sector is poised for growth due to increasing demand for high-frequency and high-speed copper-clad laminates, with a projected compound annual growth rate of 26% from 2024 to 2026 [5] - The phosphate fertilizer market is experiencing price increases driven by overseas agricultural recovery and supply disruptions, while the pesticide sector is expected to see price recovery due to increased demand and limited supply growth [5][6]