As part of our ongoing series at The Acquirer’s Multiple, each week we highlight a stock from our Stock Screeners that may be a deeply undervalued opportunity hiding in plain sight.This week’s spotlight is Westlake Chemical Partners LP (WLKP) — the MLP affiliate of Westlake Corp., specializing in ethylene production and long-term feedstock supply under highly contracted arrangements.Business OverviewWLKP operates a streamlined and capacity-secured ethylene production business with Westlake Corp. as its prim ...

Core Viewpoint - Asahi Kasei, Mitsui Chemicals, and Mitsubishi Chemical are collaborating to decarbonise and optimise ethylene production in western Japan, supported by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry's HtA Support Programme [1][5]. Group 1: Collaboration and Transition - The companies will establish a joint operating entity to manage ethylene production, leading to the closure of the AMEC facility at the Mizushima Plant by fiscal year 2030 [2]. - Operations will be consolidated at the Osaka Petrochemical Industries facility in Takaishi, Osaka [2]. - Equipment modifications will be made at OPC's Senboku Factory and other sites, with plans to dismantle AMEC's equipment and explore uses for the vacated site aligned with carbon neutrality [3]. Group 2: Investment and Technology - An investment of Y21.2 billion ($139 million) is allocated for the transition, including a subsidy application of up to Y10.4 billion [4]. - The investment will focus on transitioning ethylene production facilities and establishing an initial production facility using Asahi Kasei's Revolefin technology [4][6]. Group 3: Industry Impact - Ethylene production is crucial for the petrochemical industry, serving as a foundation for various products [5]. - The cooperative strategy aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by sharing technology and implementing carbon-neutral measures [5][7]. - The HtA Support Programme is expected to facilitate a transition towards competitive decarbonised basic chemicals, supporting market expansion and sustainable business models [7].

谨慎派则聚焦结构性隐患与衍生风险。美国近70%电网设施服役超25年，燃气电厂设备超期服役问题突出，此次风暴再次暴露基建老化短板，未来极端天气 下能源危机或频繁上演。同时，能源价格暴涨可能推升核心通胀，制约美联储降息空间，叠加此前经济对AI的单一依赖，多重压力下衰退风险或边际上 升。此外，公用事业公司的成本缓冲效应有限，终端用户账单上涨将逐步显现，抑制居民消费活力。 价格暴涨快速向全产业链传导，经济损失持续扩大。交通领域首当其冲，单周日航班取消量超1.1万架次，创疫情以来新高，全美累计取消航班超1.6万架 次，UPS等物流巨头预警服务中断。制造业受双重挤压，墨西哥湾沿岸化工企业因低温关停部分装置，天然气作为原料和燃料的双重属性，推高乙烯、聚丙 烯等产品成本，下游包装、家电行业承压。AccuWeather预估，此次风暴造成的经济损失将达1050亿至1150亿美元，堪比重大自然灾害。 宏观经济层面，寒潮正削弱美国一季度增长动能。摩根士丹利测算，风暴可能拖累一季度GDP增速0.5至1.5个百分点，若按上限计算，或将抹去该季度大部 分预期增幅。更复杂的是，能源价格上涨可能干扰通胀数据与政策判断，牛津经济研究院指出，极端 ...

Core Insights - BASF SE has commenced operations at its steam cracker in the new Verbund complex in Zhanjiang, China, representing a significant investment in the region and one of the largest projects in its global network for Asia-Pacific [1][3] Group 1: Facility and Production - The steam cracker has an annual ethylene capacity of approximately 1 million metric tons and is the first globally to operate its main compressors entirely on renewable energy, showcasing BASF's commitment to sustainable chemical production [2][7] - This facility will supply multiple downstream units and enhance BASF's local value chain to cater to the rapidly growing chemical market in China [3][7] Group 2: Market Position and Performance - Zhanjiang is positioned to be BASF's third largest Verbund site globally, following Ludwigshafen and Antwerp, further solidifying its presence in the chemical industry [3] - BASF's shares have increased by 0.5% over the past six months, contrasting with a 13% decline in the industry [4]

Summary of Wanhua Chemical Group Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Wanhua Chemical Group - **Industry**: Chemicals, specifically focusing on methylene diphenyl isocyanate (MDI) and petrochemicals - **Market Position**: Largest global producer of MDI with an annual production capacity of 3.5 million tons as of end-2024 [12][27] Key Points and Arguments MDI Price Increases - Wanhua has implemented several price hikes for MDI products: - **December 1**: Raised pMDI/mMDI prices by **US$200/ton** in Southeast Asia and South Asia - **December 8**: Increased MDI prices by **US$350/ton** in the Middle East, Africa, and Turkey - **December 15**: Raised prices of all MDI and TDI in Latin America by **US$200/ton** - Other major global MDI companies, including BASF, Dow, Huntsman, and Covestro, have also announced price increases since late November [2] Petrochemical Profitability Outlook - Wanhua's petrochemical profitability is expected to improve over the next two years due to: - Increased use of ethane as feedstock, which offers cost advantages over naphtha/LPG - A noted decline in capital expenditures (capex) within China's chemical industry, indicating a potential recovery in petrochemical fundamentals [3] - The company anticipates that the fundamentals of the petrochemical market are at a historical low, with a potential stabilization and recovery expected in the next 2-3 years [3] 2026 Profitability Expectations - MDI profitability is projected to improve mildly in the polyurethane (PU) segment due to: - A potential recovery in pMDI exports, which saw a **32% year-over-year decline** in the first eleven months of 2025 - Adjustments in shipment pace based on supply and demand dynamics - Enhanced profitability from the petrochemical segment due to a higher percentage of ethane as feedstock [4] Financial Projections and Valuation - **Price Target**: Increased from **Rmb84** to **Rmb94** based on a more positive outlook for the PU and petrochemical sectors - **Earnings Revision**: 2027-2029 earnings estimates revised up by **3-8%** - **Return on Invested Capital (ROIC)**: Medium-term ROIC revised from **13% to 14%** - **Valuation Metrics**: DCF-based price target implies **19x and 16x** PE for 2026 and 2027, respectively [5] Financial Highlights - **Market Capitalization**: **Rmb242 billion** (approximately **US$34.5 billion**) - **Current Share Price**: **Rmb77.07** as of December 24, 2025 - **52-week Range**: **Rmb77.07 - 52.53** - **Average Daily Volume**: **30,873,000 shares** [6] Earnings Forecast - **Earnings Per Share (EPS)** estimates for the upcoming years: - **2025E**: **Rmb4.01** - **2026E**: **Rmb5.07** - **2027E**: **Rmb6.02** (3% increase from previous estimates) [7] Risks and Challenges - Key downside risks include: - Economic downturn leading to declining MDI demand - Potential price wars among MDI leaders during capacity expansions - Sluggish petrochemical fundamentals in China - Technological breakthroughs by competitors in the MDI space - Uncertainties surrounding the development of new materials [13] Additional Insights - The company is on track with new material projects, including lithium iron phosphate (LFP) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) [4] - Capex intensity has weakened year-to-date compared to previous years, indicating a strategic shift in investment focus [4] This summary encapsulates the critical insights from the conference call regarding Wanhua Chemical Group's market position, financial outlook, and strategic initiatives within the chemical industry.

Core Insights - Petrobras and Braskem have signed long-term feedstock supply contracts valued at $17.8 billion, marking a significant milestone in the Brazilian petrochemical industry [1][2][18] Group 1: Overview of the Agreements - The agreements consist of two major contracts: one for petrochemical naphtha worth $11.3 billion and another for natural gas liquids (NGLs) worth $5.6 billion, set to commence in January 2026 [3][4] - The naphtha supply deal will provide 4.116 million tons in 2026, increasing to 4.316 million tons by 2030, ensuring a stable supply for Braskem's operations [5][6] Group 2: Strategic Shift and Expansion - Braskem is transitioning from naphtha to more competitive NGLs like ethane, aiming to enhance Brazil's position in global petrochemical production [2][11] - The $5.6 billion contract for ethane, propane, and hydrogen is crucial for expanding Braskem's Duque de Caxias facilities, expected to run for 11 years starting in 2026 [6][7] Group 3: Long-term Supply Commitments - From 2026 to 2028, Petrobras will supply 580,000 tons of ethylene equivalent annually, increasing to 725,000 tons per year starting in 2029, supporting Braskem's expansion plans [10][11] - Additional propylene supply agreements valued at approximately $940 million will further support Braskem's diverse production lines, ensuring access to necessary feedstocks [14][15] Group 4: Strategic Influence and Future Outlook - Petrobras is increasing its influence over Braskem as Novonor plans to divest its stake, indicating a trend of state-controlled entities shaping Brazil's petrochemical sector [12][13] - The collaboration between Petrobras and Braskem is expected to unlock nearly $800 million in investments, driving growth and modernization in the Brazilian petrochemical industry [7][18]

Core Insights - The LPG shipping market is increasingly influenced by global energy and petrochemical flows rather than short-term freight volatility [2] - BW LPG is the largest owner-operator in the VLGC sector, while Dorian LPG operates solely in this sector with 27 vessels [2] - Navigator Gas has the world's largest fleet of handysize liquefied gas carriers, operating 57 semi- or fully-refrigerated vessels [3] U.S. Production and Global Use - LPG production is expected to grow by 25-32% by 2030, driven by the gassy nature of maturing shale basins like the Permian [4] - LPG is gaining traction as a marine fuel, with companies adopting dual-fuel propulsion for new vessels [4] - The consolidation of naphtha-based petrochemical capacity in Europe is positive, as replacement capacity in Asia is more LPG-intensive, increasing ton-mile demand [4] Capital Discipline - Dividends are highlighted as the primary method for returning value to shareholders, with a stronger market response to dividends compared to buybacks [5] - Dorian LPG increased its quarterly cash dividend to $0.07/share from $0.05/share and raised the net income payout percentage to 30% from 25% [5] - Navigator Gas has repurchased an additional $50 million of shares for three consecutive years, with plans for continued share repurchases in 2026 [5] Fleet Supply, Regulation, and Environmental Transition - The VLGC sector has a 25% orderbook to fleet ratio, but strong demand growth and an aging fleet provide balance [6] - Navigator Gas has a benign orderbook of about 10%, with potential negative fleet growth due to scrapping of older vessels [6] - The impending ban on scrubber discharges is accelerating a shift towards alternative fuels [6] Environmental Strategies - BW LPG is shifting its fleet composition towards LPG dual fuels, while Navigator Gas is also building dual-fuel vessels [7] - The focus is moving away from scrubbers, with investments in scrubbers exceeding internal calculations, indicating a future in alternative fuels [7]

Core Viewpoint - ExxonMobil plans to permanently shut down one of its two steam crackers at its Singapore refining and petrochemical complex due to global overcapacity in the petrochemical industry, which has negatively impacted profitability [1][3]. Company Overview - ExxonMobil operates a 592,000-barrel-per-day refinery in Jurong, Singapore, which is integrated with the Singapore Chemical Plant (SCP) that has an ethylene production capacity of 1.9 million tonnes per year [2]. Industry Context - The petrochemical industry is facing challenges with razor-thin margins and losses, primarily due to overcapacity, particularly from China, which has led to a global glut affecting profitability [3][4]. - South Korea's government has urged its petrochemical sector to restructure and reduce excess capacity, with the ten largest domestic companies agreeing to cut naphtha-cracking capacity by up to 25% [5]. Future Plans - The closure of the steam cracker is expected to be completed by June 2026, and ExxonMobil plans to reduce its workforce by 10-15% by 2027 as part of a global restructuring effort [6].

Core Insights - China's new petrochemical capacity is raising concerns about potential oversupply in the global market, which could negatively impact smaller petrochemical producers [1][3] - The forecast indicates an 18% increase in polyethylene production in China this year, significantly outpacing the expected 10% growth in demand, leading to a 13% decline in polyethylene imports [1][4] Industry Overview - China has become the world's largest producer of ethylene and polyethylene, having built seven petrochemical complexes in the last decade, surpassing the United States [2] - As the largest consumer of petrochemicals, China's imports reached 15 million tons last year, but increasing domestic production is shrinking the market for other producers [3] Future Projections - China's polyethylene production capacity is expected to grow by another 16% by 2026, potentially worsening the existing structural imbalance due to surplus production capacity [4] - Some new production capacity is being delayed, as seen with BASF's new petrochemicals plant in China, which has postponed its operations [4] Demand Dynamics - Petrochemicals are the primary driver of crude oil demand growth, accounting for 95% of total oil demand growth over the five years leading to 2024, with significant demand growth observed in China [5] - The rapid growth in petrochemical demand in China mirrors trends seen in other sectors like solar power and electric vehicles, where government support led to oversupply and overcapacity issues [5]

Core Viewpoint - Exxon Mobil announced the shutdown of its Fife ethylene plant in Scotland, scheduled for February 2026, due to high supply costs, weak market conditions, and challenging UK economic factors [1] Group 1: Company Impact - The closure of the Fife ethylene plant reflects Exxon Mobil's response to unfavorable economic conditions affecting its operations in the UK [1] - The decision indicates a strategic shift in the company's operational focus, potentially reallocating resources to more profitable ventures [1] Group 2: Industry Context - The announcement highlights broader challenges within the ethylene production sector, including rising supply costs and market volatility [1] - The situation may signal a trend of consolidation or restructuring within the industry as companies adapt to changing economic landscapes [1]