Core Viewpoint - The chemical industry is experiencing a collective shift in business strategies driven by multiple factors, leading to a recovery in industry prosperity [1] Group 1: Industry Trends - The long-standing focus on market share in China's chemical industry is being transformed, with companies now facing increased barriers to entry due to supply-side reforms, environmental checks, and dual carbon goals [1] - Internal policy adjustments and external anti-dumping investigations are signaling a necessary change in the expectations surrounding market share [2] Group 2: Business Strategy Shifts - Companies are moving towards sacrificing existing market share to enhance short-term return rates, as merely halting expansion is no longer sufficient to address inventory and excess capacity [2] - The change in business strategies is primarily driven by shifts in the mindset of entrepreneurs and management, marking a significant departure from previous industry recovery patterns [2] Group 3: Selection Criteria for Investment - The preferred selection criteria for the industry include the strength of expansion constraints and the depth of leading companies' advantages, with stronger constraints leading to lower expectations for market share-driven growth [3] - The depth of leading companies' advantages not only constrains industry expansion but also determines the potential recovery in industry return rates [3] Group 4: Investment Recommendations - Recommended investment opportunities include: - MDI: Wanhua Chemical (600309) - Petrochemicals: Sinopec (600028), Rongsheng Petrochemical (002493), Hengli Petrochemical (600346) - Phosphate Chemicals: Chuanheng Shares (002895), Yuntianhua (600096), Xingfa Group (600141) - PVC: Zhongtai Chemical (002092), Xinjiang Tianye (600075), Chlor-alkali Chemical (600618), Tianyuan Shares (002386) - Polyester Bottle Chips: Wankai New Materials (301216) [4]

Core Insights - The chemical industry is undergoing a strategic shift from a focus on market share to profitability, driven by internal policy adjustments and external pressures such as anti-dumping investigations [4][7][11] - The report identifies five key sectors with investment potential: MDI, petrochemicals, phosphate chemicals, PVC, and polyester bottle flakes, emphasizing the importance of leading companies with significant market share and competitive advantages [4][12][55] Group 1: Industry Trends - The chemical industry has historically prioritized market share, but recent policies and market conditions are prompting a shift towards profitability [7][13] - The supply-side reforms and dual carbon goals have raised entry barriers, leading to increased industry concentration without curbing expansion ambitions [7][13] - The trend of sacrificing market share for improved returns is becoming more prevalent, as companies recognize the need to adapt to changing market dynamics [31][11] Group 2: Investment Recommendations - MDI: The leading company, Wanhua Chemical, is expected to benefit significantly from its strategic shift towards profitability, with potential for substantial earnings growth in 2026 [56] - Petrochemicals: Major players like Sinopec and Rongsheng Petrochemical are undergoing operational adjustments that could reshape industry trends [57] - Phosphate Chemicals: The sector is poised for revaluation due to a tight supply-demand balance and increasing recognition of phosphate's value in energy security [59][60] - PVC: The industry faces strong supply constraints, with emerging markets driving demand growth despite domestic challenges [60] - Polyester Bottle Flakes: The sector is experiencing a recovery in profitability due to high industry concentration and strategic production limitations by leading firms [61]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights that the basic chemical sector is expected to show significant growth, with a year-to-date increase of +41.4% as of December 26, 2025, ranking it fifth among all industries [3] - The basic chemical industry experienced a cyclical pattern in 2025, characterized by weak performance in the first half, a rebound driven by improved expectations in the middle, and active structural trends in the latter part of the year [3] - The performance of the basic chemical sector varied significantly across sub-industries, with lithium battery materials and phosphate chemicals benefiting from better-than-expected production and supply-demand improvements, leading to substantial price increases [3] Group 2 - The macroeconomic environment is gradually recovering, establishing a bottoming trend for the chemical industry, with downstream companies in a replenishment phase, which is expected to improve profitability [4] - The agricultural chemicals sector performed relatively well, with high prices for phosphate and potash fertilizers, while the pesticide industry is entering an initial recovery phase [4] - The lithium battery materials sector is seeing a significant recovery in profitability due to strong terminal demand and orderly expansion by leading companies [4] Group 3 - Emerging application areas such as AI, OLED, and robotics are becoming new growth engines for the basic chemical industry, driving strong demand for new materials [5] - The semiconductor industry is expanding due to increased AI computing power and data center construction, which in turn boosts demand for key materials like photoresists and electronic chemicals [5] - The rapid development of the humanoid robot industry is creating new demand for high-performance materials, with specific materials like PEEK and MXD6 showing high application potential due to their lightweight and high-strength characteristics [5]

Industry Overview - The chemical sector experienced a decline of 2.19% from December 8 to December 12, 2025, ranking 26th among all sectors, underperforming the Shanghai Composite Index by 1.85 percentage points and the ChiNext Index by 4.93 percentage points [1] - The chemical industry is expected to continue its trend of divergence in 2025, with recommendations to focus on synthetic biology, pesticides, chromatography media, sweeteners, vitamins, light hydrocarbon chemicals, COC polymers, and MDI [1] Synthetic Biology - The arrival of a pivotal moment in synthetic biology is anticipated, driven by the adjustment of energy structures, which may disrupt fossil-based materials and favor low-energy products [1] - Traditional chemical companies are expected to compete based on energy consumption and carbon tax costs, with successful firms leveraging green energy alternatives and integrated advantages to reduce costs [1] - The demand for bio-based materials is projected to surge, leading to potential profitability and valuation increases, with a focus on leading companies like Kasei Bio and Huaheng Bio [1] Refrigerants - The implementation of quota policies is expected to usher in a high-growth cycle for third-generation refrigerants, with supply entering a "quota + continuous reduction" phase starting in 2024 [2] - The demand for refrigerants is anticipated to grow steadily due to the development of heat pumps, cold chain markets, and the expansion of the air conditioning market in Southeast Asia [2] - Companies with high quota shares, such as Juhua Co., Sanmei Co., Haohua Technology, and Yonghe Co., are expected to benefit significantly from this trend [2] Electronic Specialty Gases - Electronic specialty gases are critical to the electronics industry, characterized by high technical barriers and added value [3] - The rapid upgrade of the wafer manufacturing industry in China is creating a mismatch with the fragmented and insufficient domestic high-end electronic specialty gas market, presenting significant domestic substitution opportunities [3] - Demand is driven by the semiconductor, display panel, and photovoltaic sectors, with companies like Jinhong Gas, Huate Gas, and China Shipbuilding Gas poised to capitalize on this trend [3] Light Hydrocarbon Chemicals - The trend towards light raw materials in the global olefin industry is notable, with a shift from heavy naphtha to lighter low-carbon alkanes like ethane and propane [4] - Light hydrocarbon chemicals are characterized by low carbon emissions, low energy consumption, and low water usage, aligning with global carbon neutrality goals [4] - Companies in the light hydrocarbon sector, particularly satellite chemicals, are expected to see a revaluation of their worth [4] COC Polymers - The industrialization of COC (Cyclic Olefin Copolymer) is accelerating in China, driven by domestic companies achieving breakthroughs and the shift of downstream industries to domestic sources [5] - COC materials are increasingly used in high-end applications, with a focus on companies like Akolai that are positioned to break through market bottlenecks [5] Potash Fertilizers - Potash fertilizer prices are expected to rebound as the industry enters a destocking cycle, with supply constraints due to Canpotex withdrawing new quotes and Nutrien announcing production cuts [6] - The demand for potash fertilizers is likely to increase as farmers' planting intentions rise, driven by higher prices for wheat and corn [6] - Companies such as Yara International, Salt Lake Potash, and Zangge Mining are highlighted as key players in the potash sector [6] MDI Market - The MDI (Methylene Diphenyl Diisocyanate) market is characterized by oligopoly, with demand steadily increasing due to the expansion of polyurethane applications [7] - The market is dominated by five major companies, which account for 90.85% of global MDI production capacity [7] - Despite current price pressures, the MDI supply landscape is expected to improve, with companies like Wanhua Chemical positioned to benefit from future demand recovery [7] Chemical Price Tracking - The top five price increases this week include caustic soda (16.92%), aluminum fluoride (12.72%), and nitric acid (7.69%) [8] - The top five price decreases include NYMEX natural gas (-12.76%) and ethylene glycol (-4.88%) [8] Supply Side Tracking - This week, 170 chemical companies reported changes in production capacity, with 7 new repairs and 7 restarts noted [9]

Industry Overview - The chemical sector's overall performance ranked 16th this week (2025/12/01-2025/12/05) with a fluctuation of 0.13%, underperforming compared to the Shanghai Composite Index and the ChiNext Index, which had fluctuations of 0.37% and 1.86% respectively [1] - The chemical industry is expected to continue its differentiated trend in 2025, with a focus on synthetic biology, pesticides, chromatography media, sweeteners, vitamins, light hydrocarbon chemicals, COC polymers, and MDI [1] Synthetic Biology - The arrival of a pivotal moment in synthetic biology is anticipated, driven by the adjustment of energy structures, which may disrupt fossil-based materials and favor low-energy products [1] - Traditional chemical companies are expected to compete based on energy consumption and carbon tax costs, with successful firms leveraging green energy alternatives and integrated advantages to reduce costs [1] - Companies to watch in the synthetic biology field include Kasei Bio and Huaheng Bio [1] Refrigerants - The quota policy for third-generation refrigerants is set to be implemented, leading to a high prosperity cycle for this segment [2] - The supply of refrigerants is expected to decrease due to the "quota + continuous reduction" phase starting in 2024, while demand remains stable due to market expansions in heat pumps and cold chains [2] - Companies benefiting from this trend include Juhua Co., Sanmei Co., Haohua Technology, and Yonghe Co. [2] Electronic Specialty Gases - Electronic specialty gases are critical for the electronics industry, characterized by high technical barriers and added value [3] - The domestic market faces a mismatch between rapid upgrades in wafer manufacturing and insufficient high-end electronic specialty gas capacity, presenting opportunities for domestic replacements [3] - Key players in this sector include Jinhong Gas, Huate Gas, and China Shipbuilding Gas [3] Light Hydrocarbon Chemicals - The trend towards light raw materials in the global olefin industry is notable, with a shift from heavy naphtha to lighter low-carbon alkanes like ethane and propane [4] - Light hydrocarbon chemicals are favored for their low carbon emissions, low energy consumption, and low water usage, aligning with global carbon neutrality goals [4] - Companies to focus on in this area include Satellite Chemical [4] COC Polymers - The industrialization of COC/COP (cyclic olefin copolymer) is accelerating in China, driven by domestic companies overcoming previous R&D challenges [5] - The demand for COC/COP is increasing in various applications, including mobile camera lenses and medical packaging, with a strong push for domestic alternatives due to supply chain security concerns [5] - Acelor is a notable company in the COC polymer production segment [5] Potash Fertilizers - Potash fertilizer prices are expected to rebound as the industry enters a destocking cycle, with supply constraints from major producers like Canpotex and Nutrien [6] - The demand for potash is anticipated to rise due to increased planting intentions among farmers, driven by higher grain prices [6] - Key companies in the potash sector include Yara International, Salt Lake Potash, Zangge Mining, and Dongfang Iron Tower [6] MDI Market - The MDI market is characterized by oligopoly, with demand steadily increasing due to the expansion of polyurethane applications [7] - The market is currently experiencing price stabilization at low levels, but profitability remains strong, with future supply dynamics expected to improve [7] - Wanhu Chemical is a key player to watch in the polyurethane sector [7] Chemical Price Tracking - The top five price increases this week included liquid chlorine (21.43%), butadiene (10.29%), and nitric acid (8.33%) [8] - The top five price decreases included trichloroethylene (-10.64%) and phenol (-6.17%) [8] Supply Side Tracking - This week, 166 chemical companies reported changes in production capacity, with five new repairs and five restarts [9]

Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Overweight" [1] Core Views - The chemical sector overall experienced a decline of 7.47% during the week of November 17-21, 2025, ranking 29th among all sectors, underperforming the Shanghai Composite Index by 3.57 percentage points [4][22] - The report highlights a continued trend of divergence in the chemical industry for 2025, recommending focus on sectors such as synthetic biology, pesticides, chromatography media, sweeteners, vitamins, light hydrocarbon chemicals, COC polymers, and MDI [4] Summary by Sections Industry Performance - The chemical sector's performance was notably poor, with the Shanghai Composite Index declining by 3.90% and the ChiNext Index by 6.15% during the same period [4][22] - The report indicates that the chemical sub-sectors showed varied performance, with the least decline in refining chemicals (-0.58%) and the most significant decline in fluorinated chemicals (-11.00%) [23] Key Industry Dynamics - The report discusses the upcoming quota policies for refrigerants, which are expected to enter a high prosperity cycle starting in 2024, with a continuous reduction in supply for second-generation refrigerants [5] - The electronic specialty gases market is highlighted as a critical area for domestic substitution opportunities due to high technical barriers and increasing demand from semiconductor and photovoltaic sectors [6][8] - The light hydrocarbon chemical trend is identified as a global movement, with a shift towards lighter raw materials for olefin production, which is expected to enhance the valuation of leading companies in this sector [8] - The COC polymer industry is experiencing accelerated domestic industrialization, driven by the shift of downstream industries to domestic production and the need for supply chain security [9] - The potassium fertilizer market is anticipated to rebound as major producers reduce output, leading to a potential recovery in prices [10] - The MDI market is characterized by oligopoly, with a favorable supply structure expected as demand gradually recovers [12]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that the chemical industry is expected to experience a recovery in profitability due to macroeconomic improvements and supply-side policy advancements, with a focus on sectors like phosphate chemicals, potassium fertilizers, pesticides, MDI, titanium dioxide, and lithium battery materials [1] - The macroeconomic environment has shown steady recovery since 2025, with expectations for CPI to return to positive territory by Q4 2025 and a gradual narrowing of PPI's year-on-year decline, indicating a bottoming out phase for the chemical industry [1] - The chemical industry's capital expenditure is currently contracting, and the pace of new capacity additions is slowing, which is beneficial for improving supply-demand relationships [1] Group 2 - The chemical industry's PB valuation is at historical lows, suggesting significant upside potential, while PE valuation reflects market pricing in future recovery [2] - The agricultural chemicals sector is performing relatively well, with high prices for phosphate and potassium fertilizers, and the pesticide industry entering a recovery phase [2] - The lithium battery materials sector is seeing improved profitability trends due to strong end-demand and orderly expansion by leading companies [2] Group 3 - Emerging applications in AI, OLED, and robotics are driving strong growth in the chemical new materials sector, with significant demand for key materials like photoresists and electronic chemicals [3] - The OLED market is experiencing rapid growth, with domestic panel manufacturers increasing their market share and the scale of organic materials expanding [3] - The robotics industry is creating new demand for high-performance materials such as PEEK and MXD6, which are characterized by lightweight, high strength, and high-temperature resistance [3]

Core Insights - The macroeconomic environment is steadily recovering, establishing a bottoming trend for the chemical industry. Since 2025, macro price indices have shown continuous improvement, with CPI expected to return to positive territory by Q4 2025 and PPI's year-on-year decline expected to narrow gradually. The chemical product price index is anticipated to stabilize, indicating that the industry is entering a phase of bottom consolidation [3][10][15]. - The chemical industry is currently experiencing low PB valuations, suggesting potential for profit recovery. The PE valuation is relatively high, reflecting market expectations for future recovery, while the PB valuation is close to historical lows, indicating significant upside potential for the industry [3][15][19]. - The agricultural chemicals sector is performing relatively well, with high prices for phosphate and potash expected to persist. The pesticide industry is entering a phase of recovery, while the MDI sector, despite low prices, is maintaining stable profits through effective shipment management by leading companies [3][41][42]. Group 1: Macroeconomic Data and Industry Trends - The CPI is expected to turn positive, and the PPI's decline is narrowing, indicating a gradual improvement in the overall supply-demand landscape for chemical products [10][15]. - The chemical industry’s capacity utilization rate is at a historical low of 72.5%, with a slight recovery in gross profit margins observed [19][20]. - The chemical industry is entering a replenishment phase after a prolonged destocking period, with inventory levels expected to rise as demand recovers [23]. Group 2: Sector-Specific Insights - The agricultural chemicals sector is seeing sustained high prices for phosphate rock, with domestic prices around 1017 CNY/ton as of October 27, 2025, supported by tight supply and increasing demand for new applications [42][44]. - The MDI sector is characterized by stable profitability despite low prices, with leading companies effectively managing their shipment schedules [41]. - The lithium battery materials sector is experiencing a recovery in profitability due to strong terminal demand and orderly expansion by leading companies [3][41]. Group 3: Policy and Investment Outlook - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has launched a growth stabilization plan for the petrochemical industry, targeting an average annual growth of over 5% from 2025 to 2026 [3][36]. - The chemical industry is expected to benefit from reduced capital expenditures, with fixed asset investments declining by 5.6% in the first nine months of 2025, indicating a shift towards improved supply-demand dynamics [31][32]. - The report suggests focusing on leading companies with strong cost control capabilities in sectors such as phosphate chemicals, potash, pesticides, MDI, titanium dioxide, and lithium battery materials [3][41].

Industry Overview - The chemical sector experienced a decline of 5.83% from October 13 to October 17, 2025, ranking 26th among all sectors, underperforming the Shanghai Composite Index by 4.36 percentage points and the ChiNext Index by 0.12 percentage points [2][3] Key Trends and Recommendations - The chemical industry is expected to continue its trend of divergence in 2025, with a focus on synthetic biology, pesticides, chromatography media, sweeteners, vitamins, light hydrocarbon chemicals, COC polymers, and MDI [2] - Synthetic biology is anticipated to reach a pivotal moment, driven by energy structure adjustments, with traditional chemical companies needing to adapt to energy consumption and carbon tax costs [2] - The third-generation refrigerants are entering a high prosperity cycle due to supply constraints and increasing demand from markets like Southeast Asia [3] - Electronic specialty gases are critical for the semiconductor industry, with domestic companies poised to benefit from the increasing demand for high-end production capacity [4] - The trend towards light hydrocarbon chemicals is becoming global, with a shift from heavy naphtha to lighter feedstocks like ethane and propane, which are more cost-effective and environmentally friendly [5] - The industrialization of COC/COP materials is accelerating in China, driven by domestic production capabilities and the need for supply chain security [6] - Potash fertilizer prices are expected to rebound as major suppliers reduce output, leading to a tightening supply-demand balance [7][8] - The MDI market is characterized by oligopoly, with a favorable supply structure anticipated as demand recovers, making it a resilient chemical product [9] Price Tracking - Significant price increases were noted for liquid chlorine (553.33%), sulfur (8.80%), and acrylic acid (3.68%), while notable declines were seen in nitrile rubber (-33.13%) and NYMEX natural gas futures (-7.98%) [10] - A total of 165 chemical enterprises reported production capacity impacts, with 8 new maintenance activities and 4 restarts recorded [11]

Investment Rating - Industry Rating: Overweight [1] Core Views - The chemical sector showed a weekly performance ranking of 8th with a gain of 1.99%, outperforming the Shanghai Composite Index by 1.63 percentage points and the ChiNext Index by 5.85 percentage points [4][22]. - The chemical industry is expected to continue its differentiated trend in 2025, with recommendations to focus on synthetic biology, pesticides, chromatography media, sweeteners, vitamins, light hydrocarbon chemicals, COC polymers, and MDI [4]. Summary by Sections Industry Performance - The chemical sector's overall performance for the week of October 9-10, 2025, was a gain of 1.99%, ranking 8th among sectors [22]. - The top three performing sub-sectors were phosphate and phosphorus chemicals (6.26%), titanium dioxide (4.23%), and oil and petrochemical trade (4.23%) [23]. Key Industry Dynamics - Synthetic biology is at a pivotal moment, with low-energy products expected to gain a longer growth window due to the adjustment of energy structures [4]. - The upcoming quota policy for third-generation refrigerants is anticipated to enter a high prosperity cycle, with demand expected to grow steadily due to market expansion in Southeast Asia [5]. - The electronic specialty gases market is characterized by high technical barriers and high added value, with significant opportunities for domestic substitution [6][8]. - The trend of light hydrocarbon chemicals is becoming global, with a shift towards lighter raw materials for olefin production [8]. - The COC polymer industry is accelerating its domestic industrialization process, driven by supply chain security concerns and the shift of downstream industries to domestic production [9]. - Potash fertilizer prices are expected to rebound as major producers reduce output and the demand for fertilizers increases due to rising grain prices [10]. - The MDI market is characterized by oligopoly, with a favorable supply structure expected as demand gradually recovers [12].