MDI王者万华化学点评:业绩短期承压,稳坐全球龙头

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the investment value of Wanhua Chemical, emphasizing its leading position in the global MDI industry and its resilience against market fluctuations despite short-term price pressures [3][4]. Group 1: MDI as the Core Business - Wanhua Chemical's business is divided into three main segments: polyurethane (core products MDI and TDI), petrochemicals, and fine chemicals and new materials [5]. - In the first half of 2025, the gross profit from polyurethane products accounted for approximately 75% of the company's total profit, highlighting its significance as the main profit source [5]. - As of September 2025, Wanhua's total MDI production capacity reached 3.05 million tons per year, maintaining the largest market share globally at 27.2%, an increase of 1.2 percentage points from 2024 [5][11]. Group 2: Market Demand and Pricing Trends - The global demand for MDI in the first nine months of 2025 was approximately 7.85 million tons, with China accounting for 3.9 million tons, or 49.7% of the total demand [8]. - Demand growth rates for MDI in various sectors from January to September 2025 were 3.5% in home appliances, 4.8% in automotive manufacturing, while the construction insulation sector saw a decline of 2.0% due to a sluggish real estate market [9]. - MDI prices in China exhibited a "first suppressed, then rebounded, and finally declined" trend in 2025, influenced by global overcapacity [9][11]. Group 3: Financial Performance and Challenges - For the first three quarters of 2025, Wanhua reported revenue of 144.2 billion yuan, a decrease of 2.3% year-on-year, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 9.16 billion yuan, down 17% [12]. - The gross margin for the polyurethane business in Q3 2025 was 25.7%, a slight decline from 26.2% in 2024, primarily due to falling MDI prices and high raw material costs [14]. - Despite short-term price pressures, Wanhua's strong production capacity, cost advantages, and diversified business layout provide significant resilience against market cycles [11]. Group 4: Future Growth Opportunities - Wanhua is cultivating its battery materials business as a second growth curve, focusing on lithium iron phosphate and continuous graphite negative electrode products, with plans to achieve a capacity of 1 million tons of lithium iron phosphate by 2027 [18]. - In fine chemicals, Wanhua's ADI business is expanding globally to enhance risk resilience, and its MS resin facility has begun large-scale production, filling a domestic gap in high-end optical-grade materials [19]. - The company is committed to a differentiated product strategy, benefiting from new production capabilities and the demand from the new energy sector, which supports its high-value product matrix for long-term growth [19].