行业自律，化工“反内卷”的新范式

Investment Rating - The report maintains an investment rating of "Outperform the Market - A" for the chemical industry [4] Core Viewpoints - The "anti-involution" policies introduced in 2024 are expected to gradually show effects by curbing low-price competition and eliminating outdated production capacity, which may lead to a rebound in industrial product prices, positively impacting PPI and CPI [1][12] - The chemical industry is a key area influencing PPI, with its price fluctuations significantly affecting industrial inflation levels, making it a focal point for boosting inflation [2][17] - The profitability of chemical companies has been under pressure, with a notable decline in net profits in 2023, which strengthens the urgency for "anti-involution" measures [2][17] - The current supply-demand dynamics in the chemical industry are improving, with supply expansion nearing its end and demand gradually stabilizing, creating upward elasticity potential for the industry [2][20] Summary by Sections 1. The Effectiveness of "Anti-Involution" Policies - The "anti-involution" policies have been frequently introduced since 2024, aiming to create a systematic environment to combat disorderly competition [12] - As of October 2025, CPI has increased by 0.2% year-on-year, indicating a shift from negative to positive, while PPI has decreased by 2.1%, with the decline narrowing for three consecutive months [1][15] 2. Importance of "Anti-Involution" in the Chemical Sector - The energy chemical sector accounts for approximately 25%-30% of PPI statistics, making its price changes crucial for industrial inflation [2][17] - Chemical companies are experiencing significant profit declines, with net profits down by 45.3% year-on-year in 2023, indicating a strong motivation for "anti-involution" [2][17] 3. Case Study of Polyester Filament - Polyester filament has been a pioneer in implementing industry self-discipline, with the first round of collaboration in 2024 leading to a price increase and improved profit margins [3][28] - The second round in 2025 adopted a more flexible pricing strategy, which has resulted in a more stable industry operation compared to the previous round [3][30] 4. Potential for Replicating Self-Discipline Models - Other sectors such as polyester bottle chips, PTA, and organic silicon are also exploring self-discipline to improve profitability, sharing common characteristics like high concentration and low profitability [9][35] - The report suggests monitoring specific companies within these sectors that are likely to benefit from the self-discipline model [9][35]