Industry Investment Ratings - Not provided in the given content Core Views - **Crude Oil**: Current oil price decline is driven by OPEC+ production increase, and supply-demand logic will dominate oil price trends in the short term. Suggest trading in a band, with support levels for WTI at [63, 64], Brent at [66, 67], and SC at [495, 505]. Consider capturing volatility contraction opportunities in the options market [2]. - **Pure Benzene**: In the short term, pure benzene is expected to fluctuate weakly. The BZ2603 contract should follow the trends of oil prices and styrene [5]. - **Styrene**: In the short term, styrene is expected to fluctuate weakly. Consider closing short positions in EB09 and look for opportunities to short at high prices [5]. - **Methanol**: MA09 is expected to accumulate inventory, while MA01 has seasonal demand and potential supply reduction from Iranian plants. Consider buying MA01 at low prices [30]. - **Caustic Soda**: The caustic soda market is in a weak state. It is expected that the number of warehouse receipts in the main production areas will increase in August. Consider holding short positions at high prices [40]. - **PVC**: The PVC market is under pressure, with increasing inventory and weak demand. Future prices are likely to continue to decline [40]. - **Polyolefins**: In August, there is pressure on inventory accumulation. However, there is potential for restocking in the seasonal peak season. Consider closing short positions at 7200 - 7300 and continue to hold LP01 [44]. - **Urea**: In the short term, the urea market is dominated by bullish sentiment. There is a game between positive factors such as the Indian tender and negative factors such as the off - peak agricultural demand [52]. - **Polyester Industry Chain**: PX, PTA, ethylene glycol, short - fiber, and bottle - chip markets are all affected by supply - demand relationships and oil prices. They are expected to fluctuate in certain ranges, and corresponding trading strategies are provided [56]. Summaries by Catalog Crude Oil - **Prices and Spreads**: On August 7, Brent was at $66.92, WTI at $64.41, and SC at 502.10 yuan/barrel. Some spreads such as Brent - WTI and EFS decreased, while others like WTI M1 - M3 and SC M1 - M3 increased [2]. - **EIA Data**: As of August 1, US crude oil production was 1328.4万桶/日, refinery utilization rate was 96.9%, and commercial crude oil inventory decreased by 302.9万桶 [60]. Pure Benzene and Styrene - **Prices and Spreads**: On August 6, the price of pure benzene and related products changed. For example, the pure benzene - naphtha spread increased by 4.9%. Styrene prices also had minor fluctuations [5]. - **Inventory and开工率**: Pure benzene and styrene inventories in Jiangsu ports decreased, and the开工 rates of related industries had different changes [5]. Methanol - **Prices and Spreads**: On August 6, MA2601 closed at 2503, MA2509 at 2396. The MA91 spread decreased by 7.00% [28]. - **Inventory and开工率**: Methanol enterprise inventory decreased by 9.50%, while port inventory increased by 14.48% [29]. Caustic Soda and PVC - **Prices and Spreads**: On August 6, the price of 32% liquid caustic soda in Shandong remained unchanged, and the price of PVC in East China increased slightly [35]. - **Supply and Demand**: The caustic soda industry's开工率 increased, while the PVC total开工率 decreased. The demand for caustic soda and PVC downstream industries was weak [38][39][40]. Polyolefins - **Prices and Spreads**: On August 6, L2601 closed at 7382, PP2601 at 7120. Some spreads such as L2509 - 2601 and PP2509 - 2601 changed [44]. - **Inventory and开工率**: PE and PP enterprise inventories increased, and the开工 rates of related devices decreased [44]. Urea - **Prices and Spreads**: On August 6, the price of urea in various regions increased slightly. The futures prices of different contracts decreased [52]. - **Supply and Demand**: Domestic urea daily production increased slightly, and factory inventory decreased by 3.24% [52]. Polyester Industry Chain - **Prices and Spreads**: On August 6, the prices of upstream raw materials such as crude oil and naphtha decreased, and the prices of downstream polyester products had different changes [56]. - **开工率**: The开工 rates of PX, PTA, and other industries had different degrees of change [56].

Core Viewpoint - The polyester chain is experiencing mixed price trends, with upstream PX and PTA weakening while downstream short fibers remain relatively strong. The overall production capacity utilization rates are under pressure, particularly in the polyester sector, as the textile weaving season enters a low demand period in July [1][2][3]. Group 1: Price Trends - From late June to early July, the polyester chain saw a collective price adjustment due to the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, with PTA main contract prices fluctuating around 4700 yuan/ton and spot prices in East China at approximately 4835 yuan/ton [1]. - The processing fee for PTA has decreased to around 300 yuan/ton, down from 395 yuan/ton in June [2]. Group 2: Production Capacity Utilization - As of early July, the domestic weekly capacity utilization rate for PX was about 84.4%, while PTA's was approximately 79%, reflecting a decline due to maintenance and reduced production [1]. - The polyester sector's capacity utilization rate was reported at 88% as of early July, indicating pressure from production cuts [1]. Group 3: Supply and Demand Dynamics - The supply of PTA is expected to increase in July, with a projected average capacity utilization rate nearing 82% due to limited new maintenance plans [2]. - Demand for polyester is under pressure, with a slowdown in order growth from weaving factories, leading to a cautious purchasing attitude focused on just-in-time replenishment [3]. - The overall capacity utilization for polyester in the first half of the year remained stable between 87% and 91%, with no significant production cuts observed [3].

Report Industry Investment Rating - PX/PTA/PF/PR are rated neutral [5] Core Viewpoints - After the easing of the Israel-Iran conflict, the polyester industry chain declined significantly due to the sharp drop in crude oil prices caused by the ceasefire. The industry will return to fundamental trading, and future market trends are affected by multiple factors including geopolitics, supply and demand fundamentals, and device operations [1] - In the short term, the oil market pressure is limited as it enters a stage of both increasing supply and demand. However, in the fourth quarter of this year, the market may turn bearish as demand growth elasticity is expected to be significantly less than supply [2] - The gasoline crack spread has limited upside, and the aromatics market is affected by factors such as export volume and short - process device profitability [2] - Each product in the polyester industry chain has different situations in terms of price, profit, inventory, and production plans, and attention should be paid to the implementation of production reduction plans and inventory changes [3][4] Summary by Directory 1. Price and Basis - Present the TA main contract, basis, and inter - period spread trends, PX main contract trends, basis, and inter - period spread trends, PTA East China spot basis, and short - fiber basis [10][11][13] 2. Upstream Profits and Spreads - Include PX processing fees (PXN), PTA spot processing fees, South Korean xylene isomerization profits, and South Korean STDP selective disproportionation profits [19][22] 3. International Spreads and Import - Export Profits - Cover the toluene US - Asia spread, toluene South Korean FOB - Japanese naphtha CFR spread, and PTA export profits [27][29] 4. Upstream PX and PTA Start - up - Show the operating rates of PTA in China, South Korea, and Taiwan, as well as the operating rates of PX in China and Asia [30][33][35] 5. Social Inventory and Warehouse Receipts - Provide information on PTA weekly social inventory, PX monthly social inventory, PTA total warehouse receipts + forecast volume, PTA warehouse warehouse receipt inventory, PX warehouse receipt inventory, and PF warehouse receipt inventory [38][41][42] 6. Downstream Polyester Load - Include filament sales volume, short - fiber sales volume, polyester load, direct - spinning filament load, polyester staple fiber load, polyester bottle - chip load, filament factory inventory days, Jiangsu and Zhejiang loom start - up rates, Jiangsu and Zhejiang texturing machine start - up rates, Jiangsu and Zhejiang dyeing start - up rates, and filament profits [49][51][62] 7. PF Detailed Data - Contain polyester staple fiber load, polyester staple fiber factory equity inventory days, 1.4D physical inventory, 1.4D equity inventory, recycled cotton - type staple fiber load, difference between original and recycled fibers, pure polyester yarn start - up rate, pure polyester yarn production profit, polyester - cotton yarn start - up rate, and polyester - cotton yarn processing fee [75][82][86] 8. PR Fundamental Detailed Data - Provide polyester bottle - chip load, bottle - chip factory bottle - chip inventory days, bottle - chip spot processing fees, bottle - chip export processing fees, bottle - chip export profits, bottle - chip inter - month spreads [90][92][101]

Investment Rating - The report indicates a challenging year for the polyester industry in 2024, with significant production capacity pressures expected, particularly in PTA [2][3]. Core Insights - The polyester industry is transitioning from a phase of new capacity additions to a focus on balancing existing capacity, leading to increased industry adjustments [2][8]. - Price volatility has decreased across various products, but significant differentiation has emerged between upstream and downstream segments [2][8]. - The supply-demand dynamics for PX and PTA are expected to remain under pressure, while ethylene glycol is anticipated to see marginal improvements in its supply-demand balance [5][22]. Summary by Sections Polyester Industry Overview - 2024 is projected to be a challenging year, with a shift from new capacity investments to the rebalancing of existing capacities [2][8]. - The overall production capacity for polyester is expected to increase by approximately 689 million tons, with a total capacity reaching 8,508 million tons [38]. PX (Paraxylene) - PX production is expected to see limited new capacity additions in 2024, with a total production of 3,770 million tons, reflecting an 11.9% growth [14][21]. - The domestic PX supply is expected to grow at a slower pace, while demand remains strong, leading to a potential improvement in the supply-demand balance [21][22]. PTA (Purified Terephthalic Acid) - PTA is facing significant production capacity pressures, with an expected total capacity of 9,472 million tons by the end of 2025, reflecting a 10% growth rate [22][32]. - The demand for PTA is projected to grow by 11.6% in 2024, with total consumption reaching approximately 6,634 million tons [23][24]. Ethylene Glycol - Ethylene glycol is expected to experience a stable supply-demand balance in 2024, with production capacity anticipated to increase by 160 million tons by the end of 2025 [5][35]. - The overall price for ethylene glycol is expected to maintain a narrow fluctuation range, with a slight upward adjustment in the price center [5][35]. Market Dynamics - The polyester market is characterized by a significant increase in bottle chip production, while short fibers and long fibers are expected to see stable growth [38][39]. - The overall industry is experiencing a rise in inventory levels, with a projected total inventory accumulation of approximately 800,000 tons for PTA [45].