EASTERN SHENGHONG(SZ:000301) 第一财经·2025-09-28 11:55Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the recently released "Work Plan for Stable Growth in the Petrochemical Industry (2025-2026)" aimed at addressing challenges such as intensified competition in the organic raw materials market, insufficient supply of high-end fine chemicals, slowing domestic demand growth, and increasing external uncertainties. The plan targets an average annual growth of over 5% in the industry's added value from 2025 to 2026, focusing on innovation, efficiency, demand expansion, optimization of carriers, and promoting cooperation [3]. Group 1: Industry Challenges and Responses - The petrochemical industry faces intensified competition, insufficient supply of high-end chemicals, and a slowdown in domestic demand growth, prompting the need for a comprehensive growth plan [3]. - The plan includes ten key tasks focusing on innovation, efficiency, demand expansion, optimization of carriers, and cooperation to enhance the industry's competitiveness [3]. - The elimination of outdated production capacity is expected to optimize supply-side dynamics and improve overall competitiveness in the petrochemical sector [3]. Group 2: Refining Capacity and Market Dynamics - As of 2024, China's refining capacity reached 955 million tons per year, with a target to keep crude oil processing capacity under 1 billion tons by 2025 [4]. - The industry is undergoing a market reshuffle, with facilities below 2 million tons per year being phased out, and new integrated refining projects coming online, such as the 20 million tons per year project by Yulong Petrochemical [5]. - The capacity utilization rate in the chemical manufacturing sector has declined from 80% in Q2 2021 to 72% in the same period this year, indicating a significant oversupply in the market [5]. Group 3: Profitability and Strategic Focus - The petrochemical industry has experienced a decline in profitability, with major private refining companies reporting a nearly 40% drop in net profits in the first half of the year [6]. - The plan emphasizes "controlling increments" and suggests focusing on high-value-added sectors to enhance supply in high-end markets, particularly in integrated circuits, new energy, and medical equipment [6]. - Companies that have already positioned themselves in high-value sectors, such as renewable energy materials, are expected to benefit from the market dynamics, with firms like Dongfang Shenghong seeing profit growth due to their investments in solar-grade EVA products [7].