Shenwan Hongyuan Securities·2025-08-10 12:42Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" outlook on the petrochemical industry [1]. Core Insights - The report highlights increasing uncertainty in oil prices due to OPEC's production increases and secondary sanctions on Russia. OPEC plans to increase production by 547,000 barrels per day in September and may consider further reductions in the future [5][6]. - Oil prices are expected to fluctuate within the range of $60 to $70 per barrel, with the overall supply-demand balance remaining loose [15]. - The upstream sector is experiencing mixed trends in drilling day rates, while the refining sector shows signs of improvement in profitability due to rising product price spreads [5][22]. - The polyester sector is anticipated to recover, with expectations of rising profitability for leading companies [16]. Summary by Sections Upstream Sector - As of August 8, 2025, Brent crude futures closed at $66.43 per barrel, down 4.65% from the previous week, while WTI futures closed at $63.88 per barrel, down 5.12% [22]. - U.S. commercial crude oil inventories decreased by 3.029 million barrels to 424 million barrels, which is 6% lower than the five-year average [25]. - The number of U.S. drilling rigs decreased to 539, down 1 from the previous week and down 49 year-on-year [35]. Refining Sector - The Singapore refining margin for major products increased to $16.62 per barrel, up $1.14 from the previous week [58]. - The price spread for ethylene was reported at $239.72 per ton, up $16.47 from the previous week, while the propylene price spread decreased to $113.50 per ton [5][55]. Polyester Sector - The report indicates a decline in PTA profitability, with prices dropping to 4692 RMB per ton, down 3.29% week-on-week [5]. - The overall performance of the polyester industry is considered average, with a focus on demand changes and expectations of gradual improvement as new capacities come online [16]. Investment Recommendations - The report recommends focusing on leading polyester companies such as Tongkun Co. and Wankai New Materials, as well as refining companies like Hengli Petrochemical and Sinopec, due to favorable competitive dynamics [16][18]. - It also suggests monitoring upstream exploration and production companies, particularly offshore service firms, for potential performance improvements [18].