The olefins plant of Rayong Olefins Company Limited, or ROC, a business within Siam Cement Group, or SCC, resumed operations on 17 September 2026 after a temporary shutdown that began on 10 March 2026 due to uncertainty in the Middle East region. Before restarting, ROC completed an assessment of operational readiness and safety standards. The restart is a positive signal for SCC, as olefins are a key upstream feedstock for its chemicals business, helping the company restore production capacity and manage its supply chain more continuously, reducing the impact of the shutdown and opening the way for the chemicals business to capture the benefits of an industry recovery. Krungsri Securities holds a positive view on ROC's return to production in late the third quarter of 2026, in line with the company's target, and maintains a Buy recommendation with a 2027 target price of 315 baht, listing SCC as one of its top picks expected to benefit from the petrochemical cycle recovery. Krungsri also sees SCC's strengths as extending beyond the ROC restart, supported by the ethane project scheduled for COD in the second half of 2027, its position as the only petrochemical operator with capacity expansion plans, with sales volumes expected to grow by an average of around 10% during 2026 to 2028 from the LSP plant, as well as the cement business benefiting from a higher share of Low Carbon Cement and government infrastructure investment, and the packaging business, which is likely to see margins recover. Krungsri estimates that these multiple supporting factors will drive SCC's normalized profit during 2026 to 2028 to grow at a CAGR of 110%.
ROC's olefins plant resumed operations on 17 September 2026 after a temporary shutdown, restoring production capacity
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MGT expects continued growth in the second half of 2026 after first-half profit surged to 82.93 million baht
MegaChem (Thailand) Public Company Limited, or MGT, a full-service distributor of specialty chemicals, expects its operating results in the second half of 2026 to continue growing from the first half, as it presses ahead with expanding cooperation with customers and business partners while sourcing new and high-margin products to strengthen its portfolio. For the first six months of 2026, the company reported sales revenue of 668.16 million baht, up from 606.94 million baht in the same period last year, and net profit of 82.93 million baht, up from 61.67 million baht. In the second quarter of 2026, sales revenue was 346.52 million baht, up from 294.36 million baht, and net profit was 45.48 million baht, up from 29.24 million baht a year earlier. Its beauty products business, operated jointly with a partner from South Korea, has recovered clearly, turning from a loss last year to a profit this year, and the company has taken a stake of approximately 6 to 7 percent. It is currently preparing documents and getting ready for a listing on the South Korean stock exchange, or IPO, with a target of listing in the fourth quarter of 2027. Dr. Witthaya Inala, Chief Executive Officer, said the revenue structure in the chemicals business still maintains a net profit margin of approximately 8 to 10 percent. On overseas market expansion, the South Korean partner has brought products to open up the market in Japan, while in Thailand the company plans to join with Green Leaf Chemical to set up a product booth during the 3rd to 5th of next month.
MGT.BK · Capital · Positive First-half 2026 net profit surged to 82.93 million baht from 61.67 million, with management expecting continued growth in H2.
Avient Raises Quarterly Dividend 2.7% to $0.2825 a Share
Avient declared a quarterly dividend of $0.2825 per share, a 2.7% increase from its prior payout of $0.2750. The new dividend carries a forward yield of 2.72%. It is payable January 7 to shareholders of record as of December 11, which is also the ex-dividend date. The increase follows four consecutive quarters in which the company paid $0.2750 per share.
RPM Narrows Fiscal 2027 Outlook to Mid-Single-Digit Growth as Q2 Inflation Forecast Rises to 9%–11%
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RPM · Capital · Neutral Narrowed FY2027 sales and EBITDA growth outlook, though Q1 adjusted EPS rose 5.3% to a record $1.98 and beat estimates.
RPM · Pricing · Negative Q2 raw material inflation forecast raised to 9%-11% and gross margins fell 100bp as inflation outpaced pricing and MAP benefits.
Air Products and Chemicals Eyes Another Earnings Beat With Positive ESP
Air Products and Chemicals is positioned to potentially beat earnings estimates again in its next quarterly report, according to Zacks Investment Research. The industrial gas supplier has topped estimates in each of its last two reports, with an average surprise of 4.10% over that span. In the most recent quarter, it reported $3.47 per share against a consensus estimate of $3.36, a surprise of 3.27%, after posting $3.2 per share versus an estimate of $3.05 in the prior quarter, a surprise of 4.92%. The company currently carries an Earnings ESP of +0.79% and a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy), a combination Zacks research shows produces a positive surprise nearly 70% of the time.
Energy Transition & Power Demand › Hydrogen & Fuel Cells Capital
APD · Capital · Positive Zacks flags Air Products with a positive Earnings ESP and Buy rank, positioning it to beat quarterly earnings estimates again.
Albemarle Cuts Debt by $1.3 Billion, Trims Interest Expense by $60 Million
Albemarle Corporation paid down $1.3 billion of outstanding debt in March 2026, reducing annual interest expense by roughly $60 million, following divestments of its controlling stake in Ketjen and its 50% interest in the Eurecat joint venture that together generated $670 million in pre-tax proceeds. The company's total long-term debt stood at roughly $1.88 billion at the end of the second quarter, down from $3.19 billion at the end of 2025, with a net debt-to-EBITDA leverage ratio of 0.5x versus 1x in the sequentially prior quarter and no major maturities due until late 2028. Albemarle ended the quarter with liquidity of around $3.2 billion, including cash and cash equivalents of around $1.6 billion, and expects interest and financing expense of $120-$140 million for 2026. Among peers, Sociedad Quimica y Minera de Chile exited the second quarter with long-term debt of around $4.79 billion and cash and cash equivalents of around $3.4 billion, while ICL Group ended the quarter with net debt of roughly $2.64 billion, up $375 million from the end of 2025, and cash resources of $2.2 billion. Albemarle stock carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell), and the Zacks Consensus Estimate for its 2026 earnings implies a year-over-year rise of 1,541.8%, though EPS estimates for 2026 have trended lower over the past 60 days.
Elliott Backs Air Liquide's First-Ever Large Buyback and 2030 Margin Targets
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AI.PA · Capital · Positive Elliott welcomes Air Liquide's first-ever large buyback, 2030 margin targets, and 5% revenue/10% EPS growth goals
Elliott Investment Management L.P. · Capital · Positive Elliott, advising funds with a significant stake, publicly backs Air Liquide's buyback and margin-improvement plan