Opinion: BASF stock is cheap for a reason

BASF’s share price is set to remain under pressure due to intensifying global competition from SINOPEC, Sibur and SABIC, according to a report on investor portal Seeking Alpha.

BASF shares have plunged over the last several months amid the Russia-Ukraine crisis. While some investors may consider it a chance to buy a quality company at a cheap price, there are reasons to be sceptical.

BASF is in danger of further losing its position in the petrochemical market due to strong global competition. Geopolitics was undoubtedly the culprit for the current situation - BASF, whose operational efficiency is highly dependent on Russian gas supplies, has been forced to look for ways to get rid of its Russian assets since the beginning of hostilities in Ukraine. The company is exploring a plan to offload energy assets in Russia belonging to its Wintershall Dea unit to its Russian billionaire joint venture partner, according to people familiar with the matter.

Read more: Dmitry Konov, the Russian executive appealing against sanctions

Gas supplies from Russia via Nord Stream 2 began to fall sharply due to the restrictions imposed - this was particularly noticeable from the end of May 2022.

Inventories in Europe are steadily rising, which could indicate a decline in demand for non-perishable and non-essential goods - at some point, European manufacturers, which account for 39% of BASF's total sales, will produce less, which will mean less demand for the company's products.

Given the widespread increase in the price of goods, mainly due to rising fuel costs, the interest rate of the ECB may significantly grow from the current level. With inflation high and the ECB's upcoming monetary tightening, BASF's largest market - Europe - is likely to be hit hard. At the same time, there is a risk that other markets important to the company will be taken over by competitors.

In Asia, another large market for BASF, other petrochemical producers including Russia’s Sibur and China's Sinopec have been expanding sales.

Even in Russia, which was isolated by sanctions, the development of the petrochemical industry was in full swing before the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine. The largest petrochemical company in Russia, Sibur, recently launched a major state-of-the-art polymer production plant in western Siberia, and I assume it will now have a huge production capacity for years to come.

Recent news about the expansion of Sibur's product line suggests that my suspicions are not unfounded. SIBUR, the largest integrated petrochemicals company in Russia and one of the fastest-growing companies in the global petrochemicals industry, has expanded its offering of advanced, eco-friendly polymers for use in packaging, pipe production and other industries.

Sibur has been increasing its exports to China, leveraging its massive production capabilities that are geographically well-placed for export to the Asian market. The company has also been diversifying its offering for Asian consumers, including the development of new currency payment options for Chinese partners. Even before sanctions, Sibur - which was until recently led by the experienced business executive Dmitry Konov - successfully transformed itself from an outdated Soviet-era producer into a modern international player with a clear focus on ESG.

And now that the choice of the key end-market has become clear (Asia instead of Europe), Sibur may actively use its strong credentials to extend market share in the Asian markets. Asia is an important market for BASF as well (though its product range is different from Sibur), with Greater China accounting for 15% of its total sales, according to 2021 data.

Read more: Opinion: Cancelling Russia may weaken European chemical producers

The battle for the Chinese market will also have to be fought with local companies - namely SINOPEC, the giant in the global petrochemical industry. Like BASF, it had projects in Russia, but despite all the sanctions, it did not have to write them off (as BASF did). On the contrary, SINOPEC's $11 billion gas chemical complex in the Amur region (in which Sibur holds a 60% stake, by the way) was "going well," as the South China Morning Post reported at the end of March 2022.

In the Middle East, where BASF has a presence, there is also a player that can use the situation to its advantage against the backdrop of the problems - SABIC (Saudi Basic Industries Corporation). The firm made a net income of 6.47 billion riyals ($1.73 billion) in Q1 2022, in line with the pre-pandemic levels. The recovery in operating performance has allowed SABIC to continue the development of some major projects that should add real value this year.

The reorientation of the relatively new Russian production facilities (which will not need to be renewed in the next few years) to China and SABIC's competitive advantage in the form of access to cheap raw materials could affect BASF's pricing power in the short and mid-term. Therefore, BASF shares still have room to move down, according to the report on Seeking Alpha.

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