Minsheng Securities·2026-01-17 09:09Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the following companies: China National Petroleum Corporation (PetroChina), China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC), Sinopec Limited, Zhongman Petroleum, and New Natural Gas [2][3]. Core Insights - The report highlights that geopolitical tensions, particularly between the US and Iran, are driving oil prices to fluctuate within a narrow range, with a slight increase observed in the past week. The market is currently facing concerns over supply surplus, which is expected to dominate oil price movements in the short term [7][10]. - The report suggests three main investment themes: 1. Focus on industry leaders with stable performance and high dividends, specifically PetroChina and Sinopec. 2. CNOOC is recommended due to its low production costs and consistent output growth, which enhances earnings certainty. 3. New Natural Gas and Zhongman Petroleum are highlighted for their growth potential in production, supported by domestic policies encouraging oil and gas exploration [12][13]. Summary by Sections 1. Weekly Insights - The report discusses the impact of the US-Iran situation on oil prices, noting a slight increase in Brent crude prices to $64.13 per barrel, up 1.25% week-on-week, and WTI prices at $59.44 per barrel, up 0.54% [11][12]. 2. Market Performance - As of January 16, the oil and petrochemical sector saw a slight decline of 0.4%, while the broader market (CSI 300) fell by 0.6%. The report notes that the petrochemical sector outperformed the CSI 300 index [15][17]. 3. Industry Dynamics - The report outlines various geopolitical events affecting oil supply, including disruptions in Kazakhstan and developments in Venezuela's oil production. It also mentions the expected oil production figures from Azerbaijan for 2025 [24][25]. 4. Company Performance - The report lists the top-performing companies in the petrochemical sector, with Bohai Chemical leading with a 15.54% increase, while Shengtong Energy experienced the largest decline at 14.94% [21][22]. 5. Oil and Gas Price Tracking - The report provides detailed tracking of oil and gas prices, indicating fluctuations in both futures and spot prices. For instance, NYMEX natural gas futures closed at $3.11 per million British thermal units, down 1.02% week-on-week [50][51].