Operator
Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for standing by. Hello, and welcome to Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding Company.
All lines have been placed on mute to prevent any background noise. I would now like to turn the conference over to our moderator, Phibion.
Please go ahead.
Moderator
Thank you, Dustin. Good afternoon to you all, and thank you for joining us for Mesaieed Petrochemical Holding's 4Q and FY 2025 earnings conference call.
On today's call, from QatarEnergy Privatized Companies Affairs, we have Abdulla Yaqoob Al-Hay, who is the manager Privatized Company Affairs. We have Rashid Hamad Al-Mohannadi, the head of Investor Relations and Communications.
We also have Sami Mathlouthi, assistant manager Financial Operations. As usual, we'll have the speakers give us the numbers and the presentation first, and then immediately afterwards, we'll have a Q&A session.
I'll turn over the call to Rashid to begin. Over to you, sir.
You can go ahead.
Rashid Hamad Al-Mohannadi
Thank you, Phibion. Good afternoon, and thank you all for joining us.
Before we go into the business and performance updates, I would like to mention that this call is purely for investors of MPHC, and no media representative should be attending this call. Kindly note that the MS Team link is to display the IR deck on screen.
In case you want to participate in the Q&A session, you must dial in through the telephone lines on the phone provided as part of the invitation. Moreover, please note that this call is subject to MPHC disclaimer statement, as detailed on slide number 2 of the IR deck.
Now we can move on to the call. On Wednesday, 28th of January 2026, MPHC published its results for the year ended 31st December 2025, and today in this call, we go through these results and provide you on key operational and financial updates.
Today in this call, along with me, I have Mr. Abdulla Yaqoob Al-Hay, manager for Privatized Company Affairs; Mr.
Sami Mathlouthi, assistant manager for Financial Operations; Mr. Saoud Ahmed, senior financial reporting analyst.
We have structured our call as follow: At first, I'll provide you a quick insight into MPHC ownership structure, its competitive strength, and overall governance structure by covering slide 5 till 10 and slide 42 and 41 of the IR deck. Secondly, Sami will brief you on the macroenvironment updates, dividend proposal, and brief you on MPHC financial and operational performance.
Then Saoud will brief you on segmental performance, and then finally, we'll conclude the call with the Q&A session. To start with, as detailed on slide number 5 of the IR deck, the ownership of MPHC structure comprises QatarEnergy with approximately 57.9% stake, and the rest is in free float held by various domestic and international corporates and individuals.
QatarEnergy being the main shareholder of MPHC provides most of the head office function through a service level agreement. The operation of MPHC joint venture are independently managed by the respective board of directors along with senior management team.
In term of the competitive advantages, as detailed on slide number 8, all of the MPHC group companies are strategically placed in term of competitively priced and assured feedstock supply under long-term arrangement, solid liquidity position with strong cash generation, presence of the most reputable joint venture partners. Additionally, its partnership with QatarEnergy Marketing acts as a catalyst for its global access.
As detailed on slide number 10, from competitive positioning perspective, MPHC ranks among the top-tier companies in the regional chemical space across most of the matrixes, and specifically lead the chart in terms of profitability margins. In terms of governance structure of MPHC, you may refer to slide number 41 and 42 of the IR deck, which cover various aspects of MPHC code of corporate governance in more details.
Now I will hand over the call to Mr. Sami.
Sami Mathlouthi
Thank you, Rashid. Good afternoon, and thank you all for joining.
Let me begin with a quick look at the macroeconomic environment. The global petchem industry went through a very difficult year in 2025.
The main challenges were too much supply, weak demand, and increasing regulatory and sustainability requirements. Large investment made after the pandemic added new capacity faster than demand could grow.
As a result, production rates for key products stayed very low, putting pressures on prices and profits. Many producers responded by cutting production, shutting down plants, or closing high-cost assets.
Demand recovery was slow and uneven, especially in construction and automotive sectors, while economic uncertainty and price volatility added further pressure. Against this macroeconomic environment which affected MPHC performance, the board proposes a dividend of 0.016 Qatari riyals per share for the second half of 2025, bringing the total annual dividend to 0.042 Qatari riyals per share.
This represents 100% payout of net income, highlighting the company ability to distribute all of its earnings despite market volatility and demonstrating its resilience. Comparing MPHC financial performance to 2025 versus the same period of last year, as referred to in slide 16, MPHC reported a net profit of 533 million Qatari riyals for the period ended 31st of December 2025, which is down by 26% compared to last year.
The decrease in profitability was primarily driven by lower average selling prices, which negatively impacted revenue. This price weakness was largely attributable to prevailing macroeconomic headwinds, softer global demand conditions, and overall market volatility.
The drop in group revenue was mainly linked to the decrease noted in average blended product prices, which declined by 10% compared to 2024. This translated into a negative price variance of 216 million Qatari riyals in MPHC current net earnings compared to last year.
Subdued product demand amid macroeconomic uncertainties resulted in lower commodity prices. On the other hand, blended sales volumes increased by 4% compared to 2024, mainly driven by higher sales volumes reported by chlor-alkali segment.
This positive movement in blended sales volumes translated into an increase of 51 million Qatari riyals in MPHC 2025 net earnings compared to last year. EBITDA for the current year noted a decline versus 2024, mainly due to lower revenues.
Furthermore, EBITDA margins narrowed during 2025, reflecting the impact of reduced average selling prices across both segments. However, the EBITDA margin declined marginally from 42% to 38% in the current year.
These factors collectively contributed to the decreased financial performance observed in year ending 31st of December 2025. Regarding the financial position as shown on slide 15, liquidity remained robust, with cash and bank balances standing at 3.5 billion Qatari riyals as of 31st of December 2025.
However, these balances inclined slightly during the period despite the distribution of final dividend for the year 2024, the interim dividend for first half 2025, and MPHC financial contributions towards the PVC project. This increase was also supported by robust cash flow generation throughout the current period.
I will now hand over to Saoud to cover segmental review.
Saoud Ahmed
Thank you, Sami. Moving to the segmental review, we will start with the petrochemicals segment, as covered in slides 21 to 25.
The segment the segment recorded a net profit of 494 million, lower than last year due to difficult market conditions. Global polyethylene markets remained oversupplied with weak demand, putting pressure on prices and margins.
Sales volumes were mostly flat year-on-year, as main as maintenance activity and scheduled turnaround at Q-Chem offset the impact of last year last year's shutdowns. While strong operational performance and cost discipline helped limit the impact, softer prices, flat volumes, and maintenance downtime weighed on overall profitability during the period.
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, segmental profit declined by 88%, reaching 19 million in Q4 2025. This was mainly due to a 6% drop in selling prices, reflecting a soft demand for high-density polyethylene and oversupply in global markets.
Additionally, a 12% decrease in sales volumes were linked to planned major turnaround in Q-Chem facilities, impacting production. Combined with weakening polyethylene market demand and contributed to compress the segment quarterly margins.
Moving moving on to the chlor-alkali segment, as detailed on slides 26 to 30, the chlor-alkali segment reported a net loss of 41 million for the year ended 31st of December 2025, representing a significant decline of 215% compared to last year. This downturn was primarily driven by 14% drop in average selling prices, which fell to levels last seen during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prices weakness was worsened by persistent macroeconomic pressures, slowed downstream demand, and reduced construction and industrial activities. Elevated global inventory levels and declining crude prices further dumping market outlook.
Sales volumes inclined by 9%, in line with higher production supported by improved plant availability and strong operational performance. However, severe market challenges pushed the segment into a net loss position, further compressing margins.
On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the segment posted a third consecutive net loss of 27 million in Q4 2025 compared to Q3 2025. The downward trend intensified, primarily reflecting continued margin compression despite a modest sequential improvement in both sales volume and average selling prices.
While prices showed signs of stabilization during the quarter, they remained near their lowest level since the COVID-19 pandemic, limiting revenues recovery and adversely impacting profitability. I will now hand over to Rashid.
Rashid Hamad Al-Mohannadi
Thank you, Sami. Thank you, Saoud, for presenting the presentation to us.
I think it's the time to start the Q&A session.
Operator
Thank you. Before we start the Q&A session, if you'd like to ask a question, please press star and the number one on your telephone keypad to enter the queue.
Again, that is star and the number one on your telephone keypad to enter the queue. We will take our first question from Waleed Jimma from Inside Capital Management.
Please go ahead.
Waleed Jimma
Hello, good afternoon, and thank you for taking my question. Just wanted to ask you if there were any one-off expenses that were recorded during the quarter that we should be aware of, if you could just help quantify if there were any, and which segment were they booked.
Thank you.
Rashid Hamad Al-Mohannadi
In terms of one-off, accounting-wise, we are not aware of any one-offs. What happened in the petrochemical segment that drove the profitability decline is basically that the petrochemical segment went into a plant turnaround that happens every four to five years, and it's alternating.
The last one we had, it was in one of the Q-Chem We have Q-Chem 1 and we have Q-Chem 2. Last one we had, it was in 2021, and then this one is happening 2026, and the next one will happen in I think 2031.
This is a major turnaround. The plant would be under shutdown for 45 to 60 days off.
That takes away a lot of production, takes away a lot of potential sales volume. It's coupled with the decreased trend in terms of polyethylene prices.
We've noticed that the profitability for Q4 was heavily impacted. This is one of the one-offs that I can think of in terms of the indicator that impacted the profitability during the quarter.
Waleed Jimma
Very clear. Just one more, if I may, if possible.
Where do you expect margins to trend into next quarter?
Rashid Hamad Al-Mohannadi
Basically, right now we have the petrochemical segment I think they went fully back online. Right now we expect, based on the prices, you need to follow the HDPE prices and the way they evolve.
This year, I think HDPE prices been among one of the commodity that was worstly impacted compared to others. However, if the demand in the future growth in terms of demand on automotive sector, demand from construction sector, then we'll see a growth as well in our profitability.
The impact on the production side is already concluded during this quarter. Next quarter, inshallah, you'll have the full capacity back online for the Q-Chem, and then hopefully the prices you need to build your projection around the prices to see how the performance will underpin in the next quarter.
The other segment, which is chlor-alkali, it's been suffering for the last three quarters. The chlor-alkali specifically has been under a lot of constraints.
Right now we have the PVC project. The PVC project already initiated at the end of this year, and that will take all of your production of EDC back of VCM EDC to PVC.
Once we have the project integrated going forward in terms of ramping up, etc., you'll start to see more of a diverging in the profitability for QVC. Going forward, inshallah, we hope that QVC will perform better.
We hope that petrochemical prices will, inshallah, take a better footing into next year. Then all it will be driven by how we perform in terms of our production, etc.
I think QVC this year, they've recorded one of the best years in term of production numbers. I think this year was the best year in terms of the uptime for production.
I think going forward, the focus will be on petrochemical and how it will evolve in term of pricing.
Waleed Jimma
Clear. Thank you very much.
Operator
Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Rabih Moussa from QIC Asset Management.
Please go ahead.
Rabih Moussa
Hi. Thanks for the call, and thank you for taking my question.
A few questions from my side. Can you provide an update on the status of the suspension PVC plant?
When do you expect to be fully operational and the estimated utilization rates for year 2026 and 2027? Are there any planned shutdowns for year 2026, and if so, can you share some details on the days, assets, and how much production will be offline?
My final question is regarding the new salt project. When will construction start, and what is the timeline do you expect on it?
This 290 million of capex, this is the total capex for the project, correct?
Sami Mathlouthi
I will start with the first one in terms of the PVC project capacity and the integration of the PVC plant into the VCM and the EDC. By the end of this year, 2025, we started the production of the PVC, and the first shipment has been already done.
That's testing shipment. During next year, we expect that the company will ramp up the production slowly, slowly until the full integration probably by the end of next year or by 2027.
We are still in the testing phase, testing the quality of the products, testing the integration of the equipments, and then we will update you once we get more clarity from the operating team in terms of the capacity in production. For 2026, for the petchem, there is no planned turnarounds during 2026.
As Rashid mentioned during the first question, that we had already one of the companies went for plant shutdown last year, the next one will be planned on 2028 for Q-Chem 1. Then for Q-Chem 2, the unplanned shutdown took place during Q4 2025, the next one will be planned during 2030, 2031.
For the petchem, we don't expect any plant shutdown. However, for the chlor-alkali segment, 2026, we normally have one plant shutdown, so that should be for around 30 days.
Then normally we always plan 1 to 2 shutdowns per month for those plants, which will take probably the unavailability of the plant during the year 2026 for another 24 days. I think that's in terms of the shutdowns.
For the salt project, we have already announced, I think, the cost of the project, and again that's still an initial, let's say, estimation of the project cost because we haven't yet arrived to the selection of the contractor and the selection of the let's say, of the project itself. The total cost of the project will be around 1 billion Qatari riyals.
That's the total cost. We announced that there are some structure in terms of the shareholding of that project, where MPHC will be holding 60% and QIMC will be holding 40% of that project.
We are still at the feasibility study and at the studies of that project from technology, selection of contractors, selection of completion of the studies. We will announce any further development during the next phase.
Operator
Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Kaushal Shah from DPA.
Please
Kaushal Shah
go ahead. Hi.
Thank you for the opportunity. My question is regarding, can you clarify the nature of the finance income in Q-Chem 2 asset?
Any additional clarity would be grateful. My second question is, what is the price dynamic do you see for medium term considering all the effects and capacity closure and capacity rationalization?
Your thought would be very helpful. Thank you.
Rashid Hamad Al-Mohannadi
Can you repeat your first question?
Kaushal Shah
It's regarding the nature of finance income in Q-Chem 2.
Rashid Hamad Al-Mohannadi
You mean whether Q-Chem 2 has financing?
Kaushal Shah
Finance income in Q-Chem 2 business. I must know what is the nature of finance income.
Sami Mathlouthi
Sorry, the question is not clear. Is it about the capacity, the plant shutdown that took place in Q-Chem 2, or something else?
Kaushal Shah
No. My question is regarding the finance income in Q-Chem 2 financials.
Sami Mathlouthi
There is no financial requirements.
Kaushal Shah
Hello?
Sami Mathlouthi
Yeah. The finance income, it's relating to a portion of tax that is due to be paid to MPHC.
In total there is an amount of 671 million which were standing at the books of Q-Chem and Q-Chem 2, and those are to be paid to MPHC. These are generating finance income on those fixed deposits in addition to any available cash which is sitting at Q-Chem 2 level.
That will be generating some income at the books of Q-Chem 1 and Q-Chem 2. Out of that, we take 49%, which is our shareholding in these companies.
Kaushal Shah
Okay.
Rashid Hamad Al-Mohannadi
Yeah. For your second question, I'll take it.
As the company doesn't give outlook, but based on what we've seen of external reports, that the prices for HDPE is linked to the supply, how much is the supply in the market, and how much is the crude price is trading at. Currently, what we are seeing right now, crude is trading at $60 to $70 per barrel, because petrochemical producers can either be producer based on naphtha or based on ethane.
When you have crude trading at lower the curve, you'll start having more naphtha producer competing, lowering the floor for others in term of pricing. Going forward, if the crude price take a spike, then you would expect that the prices for polyethylene will increase naturally with that.
Again, that will also be subject to the market dynamics, how the supply demand arrival in each regions. We've seen that China demand has been slow, however over the second half of the year China is gradually starting to consume more and more.
It will all depend going forward how the market will react and how the naphtha producer will start to compete against ethane producer, etc. It will all depend on the market dynamics and also the interest rate.
Kaushal Shah
Thank you.
Operator
Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Ejayan Al-ahbabi?]
from Al Rayan Investment. Please go ahead.
]:
Ejayan Al-ahbabi
Salam alaikum. Thank you, everyone.
My question is, can you please help me understand what is the uplift of selling PVC as opposed to VCM?
Rashid Hamad Al-Mohannadi
You'll have two elements that will support the PVC. First, currently you're selling VCM EDC.
VCM and EDC is currently sold as a liquid form. Transportation of that product is quite hazardous.
Also you have concentration because few clients are taking those EDC, VCM. Basically that's one element when it comes to VCM versus PVC.
PVC is more of a solid product. You can transport it in containers, you can ship it together with polyethylene, and it's widely used in various application.
PVC is used in variety of application, easier to ship. That's one benefit.
Second benefit is the spread. Usually you'll have the spread between EDC and PVC, and it moves from quarter to quarter.
This spread is expected to cover your cost to basically produce PVC plus some margin. Basically you're integrating your product further down the value chain.
Also the PVC, currently in Qatar there is not a single producer of PVC in Qatar. All the PVC is currently being used in Qatar are imported.
After this project is up and running, you'll have a local source of PVC. Part of our production will cater for the local demand, and the surplus will be exported to international location, and it will be easier to ship.
You can club it with other product during shipping, and even storage is easier. We expect there is some kind of a benefit from PVC.
]:
Ejayan Al-ahbabi
Can you please share with us some color on the difference in the spread between the two products, kindly?
Rashid Hamad Al-Mohannadi
Basically, currently we didn't have it on the IR presentation. I think going forward next quarter we'll start to put the PVC prices in the market, and you'll see the trends going forward how it will trade.
From next quarter, inshallah, we'll add the PVC.
Sami Mathlouthi
At the moment it's ranging from $180 to $200 per ton. ]:
Ejayan Al-ahbabi
Okay. Thank you.
Thank you very much. Thank you.
Operator
Thank you. Our next question comes from the line of Lee Beswick from QNB.
Please go ahead.
Lee Beswick
Hi, thanks. Just wondering if we can talk about caustic soda supply growth, particularly some of the supply growth in China, which is coming on at sort of a marginal cost of sort of somewhere between $200 and $250.
How do you think that sort of change the market? If caustic soda prices sort of fall to $300 or below, is that level sustainable?
Can you make money at that level, or would that require cost-cutting or some other changes to make money at that level?
Rashid Hamad Al-Mohannadi
Caustic soda market has been volatile for the last I think two years or so. It's been on and off depending on how aggressive China is in term of their projects expansion plans.
I think China has put a pause in certain projects during I think not last year, the year before, due to environment regulation aspect. I think going forward, the market will have to adjust itself based on how the cost of producers and how they produce.
Of course, for us as MPHC, we always monitor our cost of production and we make sure that whatever we produce is beneficiary for us. As I mentioned, right now we're venturing into PVC, we'll continue to monitor the PVC trends going forward and whether it's beneficially to the company, and we also will continue to implement cost measures where it's needed, etc.
It's under the radar of the company and the management, and we are aware of the changes of the market.
Lee Beswick
Do you anticipate that you could be moving to a structural position where you are not at the low end of the cost curve and, therefore, your production is structurally challenged?
Rashid Hamad Al-Mohannadi
Us and others are producing at similar levels. I think the majority of the market are suffering, not only us.
I think big portion of the market, even Chinese producers, some of them are selling with net loss. The market going forward had to adjust itself by either these lower or higher-cost producers will have to either take a decision to shut down, or there had to be a self-leveling of the market going forward.
What I can comment on from the company prospect that we are reviewing the cost on thoroughly from standing point today and even going forward at the management level of the company. If we see that there are certain opportunities for cost management or cost-cutting, we are implementing.
All these aspects has already been looked after by the company, and also we're venturing into a new chapter right now whereby we are producing PVC. We'll see how evolve going forward and how the company will perform.
Lee Beswick
Okay. Thank you.
Operator
Thank you. Our next question comes back from the line of Rabih Moussa from QIC Asset Management.
Please go ahead.
Rabih Moussa
Hi, yeah. Just a follow-up on the previous questions.
For the PVC project, you expect full ramp-up by end of 2027? For the shutdowns, the chlor-alkali segment, we have 30 days in 2026, and which quarter are the days?
Rashid Hamad Al-Mohannadi
Just to answer you on the first part, second part Sami will answer you. In term of the PVC, right now we initiated the project.
There is a testing period right now. We'll have clearer clarity going forward with Q1 to report to the market officially when the project is expected to be fully integrated and completed.
I think you'll start to see right now quantities coming through in Q1 as PVC, and gradually you'll start to realize more PVC going into the market. The full integration timeline, we'll have to report it officially in the upcoming quarters.
The project right now is in a testing phase. I think the second part for the question about the shutdown, Sami can answer.
Sami Mathlouthi
I think for, as we said in the beginning, we allocate, in average, two days per month for the plant shutdown for QVC due to the plants itself. Then there is, as I said, 30 days of plant shutdown that will be during Q4 2026.
Rabih Moussa
Okay. Thank you.
That was very clear.
Operator
Thank you. We have no further questions on the queue.
I will now turn the call back over to our moderator, Phibion, for closing remarks.
Moderator
Thank you, Rashid. It's Phibion here.
If there are no further questions on the line, it brings us to the end of our call today. Thank you for joining us, and a special thanks to the management team for taking its time to update the market.
Please do join us for future calls related to Mesaieed. Have a good afternoon.
Rashid Hamad Al-Mohannadi
Thank you all. Thank you.
Operator
The meeting has now concluded. Thank you all for joining.
You may now disconnect.
Already premium?