Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the basic chemical industry [2][41]. Core Insights - The basic chemical industry is experiencing overall profit pressure, with a divergence in performance across sub-industries. In 2024, the industry is expected to see revenue growth without profit increase, with a slight decline in chemical product price indices and continued low demand globally [4][19]. - In 2024, the overall revenue of the chemical industry is projected to be 28,649.67 billion, a year-on-year increase of 2.96%, while the net profit attributable to shareholders is expected to be 1,080.70 billion, a decrease of 7.10% [4][15]. - The first quarter of 2025 shows a slight improvement, with revenue reaching 6,769.65 billion, a year-on-year increase of 1.30%, and net profit of 337.50 billion, an increase of 5.58% [4][24]. Summary by Sections 1. Industry Performance Overview - The chemical industry is in a low prosperity phase, with a competitive landscape intensifying and continued pressure on product prices and profitability. The overall gross profit margin for the industry is 14.57%, down by 0.65 percentage points year-on-year [4][15]. 2. Sub-Industry Performance - In 2024, the top five sub-industries by revenue growth are rubber products (+23.27%), modified plastics (+16.60%), nylon and polyester (+14.65%), membrane materials (+12.56%), and other plastic products (+9.70%). The top five by net profit growth are nitrogen fertilizers (+145.81%), chlor-alkali (+122.69%), dyeing chemicals (+119.16%), compound fertilizers (+59.81%), and rubber additives (+42.74%) [6][33]. - In the first quarter of 2025, the leading sub-industries by revenue growth are compound fertilizers (+26.73%), modified plastics (+22.35%), civil explosives (+20.07%), potassium fertilizers (+19.93%), and synthetic resins (+18.71%). The top five by net profit growth are fluorochemicals (+99.89%), chlor-alkali (+86.21%), pesticides (+72.93%), membrane materials (+54.54%), and potassium fertilizers (+44.95%) [6][38]. 3. Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on sub-industries with expected improvements in supply-demand dynamics, leading companies driven by capital expenditure expansion and R&D, and high-end chemical new materials benefiting from increased demand or ongoing domestic substitution [7][43]. - Recommended investment targets include Longbai Group, Hualu Hengsheng, Yangnong Chemical, Xinheng, and Guoci Materials [7][44].