从三季报看化工行业的投资机会

Summary of Key Points from Conference Call Industry Overview - The chemical industry is currently in a phase of profit recovery after a decline from the peak in 2021, similar to the cycle observed from 2012 to 2015 [1][3] - Raw material prices are stable, with gross margins and price spreads at historical lows, but the pressure from oversupply is easing, and demand from mid and downstream sectors is steadily growing [1][3] - Capital expenditure in the chemical industry is expected to expand rapidly from 2022 to 2024, but a significant decline is anticipated in 2025, indicating a peak in capacity growth [1][3] Market Dynamics - The refrigerant market is entering a long-term upward cycle starting from the end of 2023, with prices for major varieties expected to continue rising, such as the price of 2,332 reaching 63,000 yuan, three times higher than the same period last year [1][5] - Major refrigerant companies have reported significant profit increases, with Yonghe's profit growth reaching 450% in the first three quarters [1][5] - The refrigerant quota policy is expected to remain stable, transitioning from annual to quarterly pricing, which will facilitate more frequent performance realization [1][5] Cooling Liquid Market - The cooling liquid market is categorized into three types: water-based, oil-based, and fluorinated liquids, with fluorinated liquids showing promising applications in immersion cooling [1][6] - Companies like Juhua and Yonghe have already established a good layout in fluorinated liquids, positioning them for better growth as demand for liquid cooling increases [1][6] Price Trends and Expectations - Refrigerant prices are likely to see a slight increase starting in November due to year-end rigid demand and the exhaustion of annual quotas [1][7] - The natural gas market is under pressure due to the predicted La Niña phenomenon and ongoing geopolitical tensions, with a projected increase in consumption as winter approaches [2][8] Investment Opportunities - The chemical industry is currently at a low valuation, with a price-to-book (PB) ratio of approximately 2.2, indicating potential for upward movement [3][9] - Investment opportunities are identified in the refrigerant, natural gas, and phosphate industry chains, particularly influenced by the demand for electric vehicle batteries [3][9]