Core Viewpoint - The domestic polyether polyol export maintains a high growth rate in the first half of 2025, with significant year-on-year increases projected for both 2024 and 2025 [1][2]. Export Data Summary - In the first half of 2024, the export volume of polyether polyol is expected to be 1.1014 million tons, while in 2025, it is projected to reach 1.3154 million tons, representing a year-on-year growth of 19.43% [1][2]. - The export volume in June 2025 is anticipated to be 219,600 tons, showing a year-on-year increase of 14.19% [1][2]. - Monthly export growth rates for the first half of 2023 are recorded at 21.71%, 28.80%, 11.06%, 14.15%, 32.10%, and 14.19% respectively [1][2]. Price Trends Summary - The average price of domestic soft foam polyether in 2023 is 9,867 yuan/ton, dropping to 8,911 yuan/ton in 2024, and further declining to 8,190 yuan/ton and 7,366 yuan/ton in Q1 and Q2 of 2025 respectively [3]. - Prices began to rebound in Q3 2025, with July averaging 7,617 yuan/ton and August (as of August 13) reaching 8,306 yuan/ton, marking increases of 3.41% and 12.75% from Q2 2025 [3]. - The average price of POP polyether in 2024 is 9,987 yuan/ton, decreasing to 9,341 yuan/ton in Q1 2025 and 8,556 yuan/ton in Q2 2025, with July and August 2025 averaging 8,475 yuan/ton and 8,547 yuan/ton respectively, indicating price stabilization [3]. Market Dynamics Summary - There has been a notable exit of overseas production capacity, with several foreign companies halting operations due to high operational costs and unexpected incidents [4]. - Key closures include Dow Chemical's cessation of a 50,000 tons/year capacity in Argentina and the joint decision by LyondellBasell and Covestro to close a plant in the Netherlands, which is expected to significantly impact local downstream polyether supply [4]. - In the first half of 2025, China exported 135,000 tons to Turkey, 135,000 tons to India, 117,000 tons to Vietnam, 60,000 tons to the UAE, and 52,000 tons to Russia, with significant year-on-year growth observed in exports to India (59.00%) and Vietnam (55.04%) [4]. Investment Outlook - The demand for the polyether industry is strongly supported by overseas demand, and domestic companies are increasingly competitive against foreign firms [4]. - Key investment targets include Longhua New Materials, a significant domestic polyether producer, and Wanhua Chemical, the largest domestic producer of soft and hard foam polyether [5].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the domestic polyether industry, highlighting strong growth potential supported by overseas demand and competitive advantages of domestic companies [4][5][6]. Core Insights - The export volume of domestic polyether polyols reached 1.3154 million tons in the first half of 2025, marking a year-on-year increase of 19.43% compared to 1.1014 million tons in the same period of 2024 [1]. - The average price of soft foam polyether was significantly low in the first half of 2025, with prices at 8190 yuan/ton in Q1 and 7366 yuan/ton in Q2, but showed a rebound in Q3, reaching 8306 yuan/ton by mid-August [2]. - The report notes frequent exits of overseas production capacity, which has led to a notable increase in domestic export volumes, particularly to markets like India and Vietnam, with growth rates of 59.00% and 55.04% respectively [3]. Summary by Sections Export Growth - Domestic polyether polyols exports maintained high growth, with June 2025 exports reaching 219,600 tons, a 14.19% increase year-on-year [1]. - Monthly export growth rates for the first half of 2025 were 21.71%, 28.80%, 11.06%, 14.15%, 32.10%, and 14.19% respectively [1]. Price Trends - The average price of soft foam polyether was 9867 yuan/ton in 2023, dropping to 8911 yuan/ton in 2024, and further declining to 8190 yuan/ton and 7366 yuan/ton in Q1 and Q2 of 2025 [2]. - Prices began to recover in Q3 2025, with July averaging 7617 yuan/ton and August reaching 8306 yuan/ton, reflecting increases of 3.41% and 12.75% from Q2 [2]. Competitive Landscape - The report highlights the competitive advantage of domestic companies as overseas firms face operational challenges, leading to supply disruptions [3]. - Key companies identified for investment include Longhua New Materials and Wanhua Chemical, both of which are significant players in the domestic polyether market [4].

Core Viewpoint - Wanhua Chemical reported a decline in revenue and net profit for the first half of the year, attributed to weak demand in its core business segments, particularly in polyurethane and petrochemical products [2][3][4]. Financial Performance - The company achieved a revenue of 90.901 billion yuan, a decrease of 6.35% year-on-year [3]. - Net profit attributable to shareholders was 6.123 billion yuan, down 25.1% compared to the previous year [2][3]. - The first quarter revenue was 43.068 billion yuan, reflecting a 6.7% decline year-on-year, with a net profit of 3.082 billion yuan, down 25.87% [2]. Business Segment Analysis Polyurethane Business - The polyurethane segment faced challenges due to slow recovery in overseas investments and weaker-than-expected demand in energy-efficient construction [4]. - The average market price for pure MDI was around 18,800 yuan/ton, while the average for polymer MDI was 16,700 yuan/ton [4]. - TDI products maintained growth in the automotive sector, with an average market price of 12,400 yuan/ton [4]. - Recent supply disruptions in the global TDI market led to a price rebound, with TDI prices increasing from 11,000 yuan/ton to 15,900 yuan/ton, a rise of over 40% [5]. Petrochemical Business - The petrochemical segment experienced compressed profit margins due to falling product prices and increased production capacity in the industry [6]. - Ethylene and propylene production capacities have increased significantly, with ethylene capacity up by 59% and propylene by 55% over the past five years [6]. - Wanhua's own ethylene plant achieved successful production, contributing to a total capacity of 61.74 million tons of ethylene and 34.09 million tons of propylene annually [6]. Fine Chemicals and New Materials - The fine chemicals and new materials segment showed stable development, supported by national strategies and emerging industry demands [7]. - Wanhua is advancing new MDI technology and expanding production capacity for specialty isocyanates [7]. - The company has made significant investments in R&D, leading to the successful launch of several innovative products, including bio-based 1,3-butanediol and optical-grade MS resin [14]. Cash Flow and Market Position - Despite the decline in profits, Wanhua Chemical reported a net cash flow from operating activities of 10.528 billion yuan, an increase of 2.3% year-on-year [9]. - The company ranked 15th in the global chemical industry according to a recent report, reflecting its strong market position and development momentum [9].

Group 1 - Zhongyin Securities issued a report on August 11, giving Longhua New Materials (301149.SZ, latest price: 12.73 yuan) a "buy" rating [1] - The rating is based on three main reasons: 1) Soft foam polyether is a high-quality target with stable operating performance; 2) The turning point for the polyether industry is approaching, and leading companies are expected to benefit; 3) The product matrix is increasingly rich, indicating broad growth potential for new materials [1] Group 2 - The report highlights the upcoming commercialization of humanoid robots, suggesting that significant orders are breaking the ice for this sector [1] - The article discusses the timeline for humanoid robots to shed their "vase" label and achieve commercial viability [1]

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Overweight" rating for the basic chemical industry [1][10]. Core Insights - The basic chemical index experienced a decline of 1.46% over the past week, outperforming the CSI 300 index, which fell by 1.75%, resulting in a relative outperformance of 0.29 percentage points [14]. - Key sub-industries that performed well include synthetic resin (4.60%), food and feed additives (2.99%), adhesives and tapes (2.95%), carbon black (2.03%), and non-metallic materials III (0.69%) [15]. - The report highlights a significant price increase in several chemical products, with liquid chlorine rising by 28.57%, epoxy chloropropane by 9.81%, and TDI by 8.81% [22][23]. - Conversely, lithium carbonate (industrial grade) and lithium carbonate (battery grade) saw declines of 10.53% and 10.39%, respectively [22][23]. Market Trends - The basic chemical sector is currently benefiting from a favorable market environment, with the "anti-involution" policy being reiterated by the Central Political Bureau, aiming to optimize market competition and regulate disorderly competition among enterprises [6][7]. - The report notes that the air conditioning production data for August indicates a year-on-year decline of 2.8% in household air conditioning production, with domestic sales down by 11.9% [8][9]. Chemical Price Trends - The report provides a detailed analysis of chemical price movements, indicating that the top five products with the highest weekly price increases include liquid chlorine, epoxy chloropropane, soft foam polyether, TDI, and concentrated nitric acid [22][23]. - The report also highlights significant price drops in lithium carbonate and natural latex, indicating volatility in the chemical market [22][23]. Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on several key sectors: 1. Refrigerant sector, with companies like Jinshi Resources and Juhua Co. recommended for their potential price increases [10]. 2. Chemical fiber sector, with recommendations for Huafeng Chemical and Xin Fengming [10]. 3. High-quality stocks such as Wanhua Chemical and Hualu Hengsheng are also highlighted [10]. 4. Tire sector recommendations include Sailun Tire and Linglong Tire [10]. 5. Agricultural chemicals sector with a focus on Yara International and Salt Lake Potash [10]. 6. Growth stocks like Bluestar Technology and Shengquan Group are also recommended [10].

Investment Rating - The report suggests a focus on sectors with significant supply elasticity and competitive advantages, particularly in the chemical industry, due to structural optimization on the supply side [7][8]. Core Insights - The "anti-involution" policy is expected to become a key focus for the chemical supply side, with attention on sectors that can compress supply and companies with relative advantages [7][15]. - Strong demand in semiconductor and robotics sectors is highlighted, with significant growth in global silicon wafer shipments and a projected market size for robotics exceeding $400 billion by 2029, with China holding nearly half of the market share [7][16][17]. - The report emphasizes the importance of domestic chemical companies in filling gaps in the international supply chain, driven by cost advantages and technological advancements [7][18]. Summary by Sections Industry News and Events - The Central Political Bureau meeting emphasized the need to optimize market competition and address "involution" in the chemical industry, with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) taking steps to regulate chaotic competition [7][15]. - Reports from SEMI and IDC indicate robust demand in the semiconductor and robotics sectors, with significant growth in silicon wafer shipments and a forecasted growth rate of nearly 15% for the robotics market in China [7][16][17]. Chemical Sector Performance - For the week of July 28 to August 1, 2025, the CSI 300 index fell by 1.75%, while the Shenwan Basic Chemical Index decreased by 1.46%, outperforming the broader market by 0.29% [20][23]. - The top-performing sub-sectors included synthetic resins and rubber products, while the weakest performers were related to civil explosives and chlor-alkali products [20][23][28]. Price Trends - Notable price increases were observed in light soda ash (up 8.25%) and soft foam polyether (up 6.04%), while significant declines were seen in PTFE (down 26.19%) and methyl acrylate (down 7.16%) [20][33]. - The report tracks price differentials, with the largest increases in the price differential for adipic acid versus benzene (up 16.78%) [20][35]. Investment Recommendations - The report recommends focusing on sectors with significant supply elasticity, such as organic silicon, membrane materials, and dyes, while also identifying leading companies in these areas [8][19]. - It highlights the potential for growth in the food additives sector driven by new consumption trends and regulatory support, as well as opportunities in domestic chemical materials due to increasing self-sufficiency [9][19].

Group 1: Chemical Sector Performance - The chemical index and oil index primarily experienced a decline, while the chemical machinery index and chemical pharmaceutical index saw increases [1] - The chemical raw materials index fell by 1.60%, the chemical machinery index rose by 1.066%, the chemical pharmaceutical index increased by 5.11%, and the pesticide and fertilizer index dropped by 2.05% [1] - In the oil sector, the oil processing index decreased by 3.82%, the oil extraction index fell by 2.09%, and the oil trading index declined by 2.83% [1] Group 2: Oil Price Trends - International crude oil prices initially rose and then fell, with the overall average price significantly higher than the previous week [1] - As of August 1, the WTI crude oil futures settled at $67.33 per barrel, up 3.33% from July 25, while Brent crude oil futures settled at $69.67 per barrel, up 1.80% from July 25 [1] Group 3: Petrochemical Product Price Changes - The top five petrochemical products with price increases included liquid chlorine up 12.72%, soft foam polyether up 10.42%, epoxy chloropropane up 8.84%, coke up 8.06%, and epoxy propane up 7.47% [1] - The top five petrochemical products with price declines included methyl acrylate down 5.88%, natural rubber down 5.77%, battery-grade lithium carbonate down 5.48%, butadiene rubber down 4.78%, and butadiene down 4.71% [1] Group 4: Capital Market Performance of Chemical Companies - The top five listed chemical companies with the highest stock price increases were Upwind New Materials up 39.37%, Honghe Technology up 22.07%, Songjing Co. up 19.97%, Ketaobiotech up 18.88%, and Asia-Pacific Industry up 17.43% [2] - The top five listed chemical companies with the largest stock price declines were Poly United down 16.35%, Weike Technology down 13.75%, Gaozheng Mining down 13.75%, New Tide Energy down 12.99%, and Yahua Group down 11.80% [2]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Recommended" rating for the chemical industry, indicating a positive outlook for the sector's fundamentals and expected performance relative to the benchmark index [5][91]. Core Insights - The chemical sector experienced a decline of 1.46% in the fifth week of July, underperforming the Shanghai A-share index by 0.52 percentage points. The dynamic PE ratio for the sector is 26.53 times, which is 2.62 times lower than the average since 2015 [12][21]. - Key products showing significant price increases include liquid chlorine (+12.72%), formic acid (+12.65%), and monochloromethane (+11.11%). Conversely, PVDF powder saw a notable price drop of -15.38% [3][21]. - The report highlights the importance of monitoring specific companies such as Dawn Co., which is advancing DVA products, and Guangxin Materials, which is focusing on marine coatings [4]. Industry Performance - In the fifth week of July, five sub-industries within the chemical sector saw gains, while 26 sub-industries experienced declines. The top-performing sub-industries included carbon black (+4.16%) and other rubber products (+1.62%) [2][15]. - The report indicates that the overall market capitalization of the chemical sector is approximately 640.53 billion, with 442 listed companies [5]. Price and Spread Trends - The report provides a detailed analysis of price movements for 256 products, with the top five price increases and decreases highlighted. The price spread for ethylene increased by 27.08%, indicating strong market dynamics [3][41]. - The inventory changes for key products show a significant increase in polyester filament (+24.84%) and ethylene glycol (+12.60%), while epoxy propane saw a decrease of -10.56% [4][57]. Important Developments - The report notes that international oil prices have fluctuated, with recent agreements between the US and EU alleviating some market concerns regarding tariffs, although negative economic data continues to make traders cautious [85][87]. - Several companies have made significant announcements, including investment partnerships and project terminations, which may impact their market positions and future performance [88][89].

Industry Overview - As of late May 2025, the price of soft foam polyether in China is 0.73 million yuan per ton, a year-on-year decrease of 19.65% [1][9] - The decline in prices is attributed to the fluctuation and decrease in upstream raw material prices, such as propylene oxide, and rapid expansion of domestic production capacity, which reached 9.5 million tons per year by February 2025, with expectations to exceed 11 million tons per year [1][9][10] - The rapid increase in production capacity has led to a significant rise in market supply, while demand growth has not kept pace, resulting in an imbalance between supply and demand [1][9] Industry Development History - The soft foam polyether industry in China has undergone four main stages: the initial stage (1989-1993), rapid development (1993-1999), technological innovation (2000-2010), and green development (2010-present) [3][4][5] - The initial stage saw the establishment of the first large-scale polyether production facility in Tianjin, marking the beginning of industrial production [3] - The rapid development phase was characterized by the introduction of new products and significant increases in production capacity, with a focus on high-end applications [3] - The technological innovation phase involved advancements in production technology and increased government support for new materials [4] - The current green development phase emphasizes technological breakthroughs in catalysts and sustainable practices due to stricter environmental regulations [5] Industry Supply Chain - The upstream of the soft foam polyether industry includes basic chemical raw materials (propylene oxide, ethylene oxide), initiators (glycerol, propylene glycol), catalysts, and production equipment [7] - The midstream involves the manufacturing of soft foam polyether, while the downstream applications span across furniture, automotive, footwear, construction insulation, waterproof coatings, and packaging materials [7] Current Industry Status - The total production capacity of soft foam polyether in China was 9.413 million tons in 2024, with a year-on-year growth of 2.34% [10] - Major companies like Wanhua Chemical, Longhua New Materials, and Changhua Chemical dominate the market, leveraging their technological and scale advantages [10][14] - The consumption of soft foam polyether in the first four months of 2025 reached 122.56 thousand tons, a year-on-year increase of 7.15%, driven by recovery in downstream sectors like furniture and automotive [12] Key Companies' Performance - Wanhua Chemical Group, established in 1978, is a significant player in the global polyether market, focusing on technological innovation and expanding its production capacity [18] - Longhua New Materials, founded in 2011, has become a leading company in the domestic soft foam polyether industry, achieving a market share of 30% in polymer polyols [16] - In 2024, Longhua New Materials reported a revenue of 5.624 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 12.01% [16] Industry Development Trends - The industry is expected to see optimization of production capacity and increased concentration, with leading companies like Wanhua Chemical and Longhua New Materials driving capacity consolidation [20] - There is a strong emphasis on technological innovation and green transformation, with companies adopting low-VOC formulations and developing bio-based polyethers [21][22] - Downstream demand is diversifying, with traditional markets slowing while new sectors like automotive and cold chain logistics are emerging as key growth areas [23]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for several companies in the chemical industry, including Sinopec, PetroChina, and CNOOC, highlighting their high dividend characteristics [10]. Core Views - The report emphasizes the importance of focusing on domestic demand, high dividend stocks, and import substitution in the chemical industry, especially in light of the recent stabilization of international oil prices [6][17]. - It notes that the international oil price is expected to stabilize around $70 per barrel in 2025, which supports the outlook for companies with strong asset quality and high dividend yields [6][17]. Summary by Sections Industry Investment Recommendations - The report suggests that the chemical industry is currently in a weak performance phase, with mixed results across different sub-sectors due to past capacity expansions and weak demand [20]. - It highlights specific sectors such as the tire industry, which is expected to perform well due to global positioning and tariff experiences [20]. - The report also identifies opportunities in import substitution for chemical products like lubricant additives and special coatings [20]. Price Movements - Significant price increases were observed in natural gas (up 14.76%), hydrochloric acid (up 9.39%), and synthetic ammonia (up 5.24%) [17][18]. - Conversely, products like adipic acid and coal tar saw notable declines, with adipic acid down 7.53% [17][18]. Key Companies and Earnings Forecasts - The report provides earnings per share (EPS) forecasts for various companies, indicating a positive outlook for firms like Xinyangfeng and Senqilin, with projected EPS growth [10]. - It lists several companies with strong dividend yields, such as Yuntianhua and Xingfa Group, which are expected to attract investor interest [20].