Code Red for Oil Refining Sectors!

Oil refining stocks’ profit were expected to have a huge growth in 3Q18 from speculation of higher oil price to remedy the losses from 2Q18. However, it turns out the oil refining stocks do not seem to be as solid as they should be.

 

The most recent company to announce its 3Q18 consolidated financial statement is Star Petroleum Refining Public Company Limited (SPRC), sending a bad signal to every other company in refining sector and investors. The supposed better shape in 3Q18 failed to meet investors’ expectation when SPRC’s profit decreased by almost 50% from ฿2,323 million in 3Q17 to ฿1,248 million in 3Q18.

Moreover, the gross refining margin (GRM) that was expected to be between 10-12 USD/Barrel(bbl) sank unexpectedly to 6.34 USD/bbl, decreased more than 4 USD/bbl when compared to the same period of last year at 10.51 USD/bbl.

The loss in GRM also lowered gross profit margin to only ฿1,341 million from ฿3,700 million YoY. While the profit from foreign exchange gains were ฿520 million, faced almost ฿500 million of loss, SPRC’s total revenue still remained the same at ฿52,000 million YoY.

 

The disappointed financial statement of SPRC sends shivers down Thai Oil Public Company Limited (TOP), IRPC Public Company Limited (IRPC), ESSO (Thailand) Public Company Limited (ESSO), PTT Global Chemical Public Company Limited (PTTGC), and Bangchak Corporation Public Company Limited (BCP)’s spine.

There are no doubts that investors would slow down on any purchasing in oil refining stocks, and keep a close eye on other 3Q18 consolidated financial statements.

 

Even though it reflects bad sentiment to the market, the loss of SPRC does not mean the loss of other refinery plants as there are different types of products in each plant, such as Aromatic, Olefins etc.

Whether other refining plants will face the same result as SPRC or not, we will hear about that in a few days time.