Wanhua Chemical posts 23% decrease on H1 profit

MOSCOW (MRC) — China’s Wanhua Chemical said on Friday that its net profit in the first half of 2022 dropped by over 23% amid rising feedstock and energy costs, said the company.

Revenue increased by 31.7% on surging prices and sales. Feedstocks costs rose steeply. In the first six months, average prices of benzene and coal increased by 30% and 52% year on year, respectively. Contract prices of propane and butane were 47% and 54% higher than the same period in previous year.

Polyurethane (PU) sector saw rebounding operating rates and high inventories. Supply and demand were basically balanced, but demand growth slowed down amid rising costs, manufacturing slump and high inflation.

Petrochemicals faced squeezed margins. Prices of oil and gas rallied fast and were highly volatile, major overseas economies suffered from inflation pressure, while domestic downstream consumptions of petrochemicals were curbed or delayed by sporadic outbreaks of COVID-19.

We remind, Wanhua Chemical posted a 49.56% decrease in net profits in the first half of 2021, as sales and prices both took a hit from the coronavirus pandemic. Slump in oil prices also dampened demand and prices of its products.
Prices of pure methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI), its major product, decreased to CNY15,800-CNY18,700 in the first half year from CNY23,700-CNY27,200 in the same period of 2019. Prices of petrochemical products the company makes also recorded a double-digit drop.

https://www.mrchub.com/news/403310-wanhua-chemical-posts-23-percent-decrease-on-h1-profit