據阿拉伯貿易網10月1日消息，沙特著名的金融服務提供商Al Rajhi Capital的最新報告稱，沙特阿拉伯的聚合物價格在今年第二季度因疫情而大幅下跌后，目前正在穩步回升。報告指出，一旦價格回升，沙特石化行業將比全球石化行業受益更多。一些關鍵的聚合物產品,如低密度聚乙烯（LDPE）的價格甚至高于2019年下半年時的價格,而一些產品的價格雖然仍低于去年同期的價格，但正在回升。

該報告稱:“至于2020年的收益，我們在上半年看到了相當多的減損，因此今年全年的收益不會太好，但是我們預計，隨著價格的持續復蘇，2021年的收益表現將較2020年出現大幅改善。雖然供需動態沒有實質性改善，但我們考慮到新冠病毒疫苗的廣泛接種，從明年第一、二季度起市場會逐步改善。不過我們預測PE和石腦油以及PP和丙烷之間的價差仍將遠低于長期歷史平均水平。”

報告指出：“鑒于聚合物產品相對防御性更強的特性，石化產品價格的上漲速度通常低于石油和原料價格上漲速度，這意味著未來石化產品的價格將逐步上漲。此外，由于石化行業現在隸屬于工業和能源部，我們認為原料價格上漲的風險較低。當油價回升時，由于乙烷固定成本，沙特石化行業比全球石化行業受益更多。”

張春曉 摘譯自 阿拉伯貿易網

原文如下：

Saudi petchem sector on steady recovery: report

Polymer prices in Saudi Arabia have been recovering steadily after dropping significantly in the second quarter (Q2) of the year due to the pandemic, a report said, adding that when prices recover, Saudi petchems would benefit more than global petchems.

Some key polymer products such as LDPE have improved even more than the price levels seen in the second half (H2) of 2019 while a few are trading slightly lower but are on the recovery path, added the report by Al Rajhi Capital, a leading financial services provider in the kingdom.

“As for earnings in 2020, we have seen quite a few impairments in H1 and hence we expect a much-improved earnings performance year-on-year (y-o-y) in 2021 on continued recovery in prices,” the report said.

“While the supply-demand dynamics have not materially improved, we factor a gradual improvement on the assumption of Covid vaccination in the market from Q1/Q2 next year. Our 2021 forecasts for PE-naphtha spreads and PP-propane spreads remain much below long-term historical averages.

“Petchem prices generally increase at a relatively lesser pace compared to oil and feedstock prices, given the more relative defensive nature of polymer products, implying a gradual rise in prices in the coming periods.

“Also, with the petchem sector now coming under the Ministry of Industry and Energy, we believe there are lower risks for an increase in feedstock prices. When prices recover, Saudi petchems would benefit more than global petchems because of the operating leverage/ ethane fixed costs,” Al Rajhi Capital said in the report.