Entries from Asian Chemical Connections tagged with 'LG Chem'

South Korea "Denial" Continues

  By John Richardson EARNINGS estimates for South Korean petrochemicals companies for the full-year 2012 remain around 30 percent above where they should be because "most financial analysts remain in denial", said an industry source. A sign of how...

The H2 Recovery Story

By John Richardson THE majority of chemicals analysts have yet to wake up and smell the coffee, according to an industry observer. "South Korean stocks have come off by 15-30% since their big recovery in January, but it is only...

Quick recovery forecast for South Korea

By Malini Hariharan Analysts are predicting a quick recovery for South Korean petrochemical companies after a dismal performance in the last quarter. Honam Petrochemical's Q4 2011 sales were down 14.7% quarter on quarter at Won3,488 bn. Operating profit declined 59.8%...

Weak margins hit earnings

By Malini Hariharan It is the results season and numbers posted so far confirm that the last quarter has been rough with depressed demand, weak product prices and firm feedstock costs affecting earnings. Siam Cement Group's EBITDA for the chemicals...

Constant Search For Feedstock Advantage

By John Richardson AROUND $6bn worth of proposed petrochemical investments in Kazakhstan - the giant central Asian country with abundant oil and gas reserves - once again confirms the three most important factors for success: Feedstock, feedstock and feedstock. "The...

Q2 setback for Korea

By Malini Hariharan The margin pain experienced in Asia in the last quarter is clearly evident in the recently released results by South Korean majors Honam Petrochemical and LG Chem. Honam's operating profit for Q2 declined 36.8% from the previous...

Japan Disaster 2 - Refining, Petchems Update

By John Richardson OUR sympathies again go to the people of Japan. The main focus should be on providing as much support as possible to the rescue efforts and let's hope that petrochemical companies globally step forward. But as...

A dose of caution

By Malini Hariharan Predictions about a steady recovery in petrochemical margins from financial analysts have multiplied in recent weeks and producers too have turned bullish with many expecting to sail through 2011 without any major difficulties. But in the midst...

LG Chem - Tried And Trusted Versus New Businesses

  By John Richardson THE potential returns from LG Chem's electric battery and electronic materials are tremendous and are leading to some bullish forecasts from analysts as to future earnings. What will be interesting, though, is what will be the...

The perils of forecasting

By Malini Hariharan This is a tough time for those who are in the business of forecasting. Predictions of petrochemical margins hitting the bottom in 2009 have so far not materialised and volumes from new plants are being digested quite...

All's well in South Korea - for now

By Malini Hariharan (Malini is now joint blogger for Asian Chemical Connections) South Korean petchem majors are expected to post another quarter of bumper earnings thanks to high operating rates and strong sales volumes. A Seoul-based equity research analyst think...