Xin Lang Cai Jing·2025-08-14 03:05Company Overview - Xianghua Chemical Co., Ltd. (002109.SZ) is experiencing a continuous loss, with an expected net loss of 180-210 million yuan for the first half of 2025, marking its third consecutive year of mid-year losses [1][2] - In the first half of 2023, the company reported a net loss of 176 million yuan, transitioning from profit to loss for the first time, and the loss further expanded to 259 million yuan in the first half of 2024 [3] Financial Performance - The primary reasons for the losses include low sales prices of main products and insufficient market demand. Although there was some recovery in operational performance due to a decline in raw material prices, the overall effectiveness remains in a loss state [3] - The company's main products include synthetic ammonia, methanol, methylamine, and dimethylformamide (DMF), with an annual production capacity of 300,000 tons of synthetic ammonia, 300,000 tons of methanol, and 100,000 tons of methylamine/DMF [3] - The market price for synthetic ammonia hit a low of 2,387 yuan/ton by the end of June 2023, a decrease of 17.49% year-on-year [3] - Methanol prices showed a "strong then weak" trend, with a cumulative decline of approximately 18% in the first half of 2024 [3] Product Pricing and Demand - The prices of methylamine and DMF from Xianghua Chemical's subsidiary fell significantly, with year-on-year declines of 65.97% and 64.8%, respectively, leading to a 41.76% drop in overall gross margin and a reduction of 675 million yuan in gross profit for these two products [4] - The company is backed by Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Group, which holds 69.37% of Xianghua's shares, making it a platform company under the state-owned enterprise [5] Strategic Moves - In response to ongoing losses, Xianghua has pursued several major asset restructurings and acquisitions, including the acquisition of a 51% stake in Yushen Energy Chemical for 995 million yuan in February 2023, which focuses on ethanol production [6] - The company also plans to invest 344 million yuan to acquire 80% of Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Xianghua New Energy Co., Ltd. [6] - Despite these acquisitions, the company has not yet managed to reverse its loss trend [7] Industry Context - The continuous losses of Xianghua Chemical reflect a broader trend in the petrochemical industry, which is undergoing significant adjustments. The industry saw a revenue of 16.28 trillion yuan in 2024, a year-on-year increase of 2.1%, but profits fell by 8.8% [7] - The petrochemical sector has faced three consecutive years of profit declines, with a 20.7% drop in 2023 [7] - Factors contributing to the industry's struggles include insufficient market demand, rapid capacity growth, and intensified competition, leading to product prices reaching near historical lows [7] Future Outlook - Although there are no current expectations for "anti-involution" policies in the petrochemical sector, there is a strong willingness among companies to improve profitability. Successful implementation of such policies in other sectors may boost market expectations for self-driven "anti-involution" efforts in the petrochemical industry [9]