PETALING JAYA: Maybank Investment Bank Research (Maybank IB) is keeping its “sell” call on Petronas Chemicals Group Bhd
(PetChem) with an unchanged target price of RM2.59, premised on its persistent bearish view on the olefins and derivatives (O&D) subsector.
The research house said PetChem’s earnings outlook remained under strain due to oversupply in the regional O&D market driven by China’s push for self-sufficiency in petrochemical production.
While expecting O&D spreads to be subdued in the second half of the year given the ongoing regional oversupply, Maybank IB said: “We are monitoring industry updates on any major capacity rationalisation developments to spot possible turnaround for the sector as most naphtha-based petrochemical players are loss-making.”
With the weakening of the US dollar against the ringgit by 5% in 2Q25 to RM4.21, the research house said this could result in unrealised foreign exchange losses for PetChem on the revaluation of the group’s shareholder loans to Pengerang Petrochemical Company (PPC), and a revaluation of PPC’s payables.
“Based on our estimates, PetChem could register weaker quarter-on-quarter core earnings in 2Q25.
“This is due to a shutdown in Pengerang Refining Co Sdn Bhd and Pengerang Petrochemical Sdn Bhd, as well as declining O&D spreads,” the research house pointed out.
