Guotou Securities·2025-12-01 05:33Investment Rating - The report maintains an investment rating of "Outperform the Market - A" for the chemical industry [4]. Core Insights - The global chemical competition landscape is being reshaped, with European and Japanese companies facing capacity exits due to high energy costs and environmental pressures, while Chinese companies are rapidly gaining market share due to significant cost advantages [1][15]. - The EU chemical capacity utilization rate has decreased from 75.6% in Q2 2025 to 74.6% in Q3 2025, significantly below the long-term average of 81.3% [2][31]. - China's chemical industry is characterized by high capital investment and R&D, leading to a strong cost advantage and enhanced global competitiveness [3][36]. Summary by Sections 1. Europe: Dual Dilemma of High Energy Costs and Environmental Pressure - European chemical companies are heavily reliant on natural gas, with over 40% of raw materials sourced from it, leading to increased production costs [20]. - The average wholesale electricity price in the EU rose by 30% year-on-year to $90 per megawatt-hour in H1 2025, expected to be twice that of the US and 1.5 times that of China [2][20]. - The EU's carbon emissions trading system (ETS) and the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) are tightening regulations, further squeezing the competitiveness of European chemical products [23][29]. 2. China: Scale Effects and Cost Advantages of Super Factories - China leads globally in chemical capital expenditure and R&D, accounting for 47% and 32% of the global total, respectively [36][38]. - The production capacity of ethylene in China has doubled from 26.69 million tons in 2019 to 54.49 million tons in 2024, with import dependency decreasing from 8.8% to 5.0% [10]. - Major Chinese companies like Wanhua Chemical are expected to further reduce costs through technological upgrades and capacity expansions, enhancing their competitive edge [9][12]. 3. Domestic Chemical Core Assets Exhibit Strong Competitive Strength - The report highlights the increasing global influence of Chinese chemical companies, which are leveraging cost, scale, and technological advantages to expand their market presence [12]. - Key players in the industry include Wanhua Chemical, Hualu Hengsheng, and others, which are positioned to benefit from the ongoing industry consolidation and optimization [12].