What is the outlook for the clean gaseous energy market and demand for composite cylinder technology?
Outlook for the cleanâgaseousâenergy market â The macro backdrop remains strongly supportive. Europeâs âHydrogen Strategyâ and the expanding âgreenâmethaneâ pipelines are driving a steady uptick in demand for highâpressure, lowâleakage storage. Global cleanâgas volumes are projected to grow 12â15âŻ% YoY through 2028, outpacing traditional LPG and compressed natural gas. However, the recent dip in Hexagonâs Q2 revenue (â41âŻ% vsâŻQ2âŻ2024) signals a shortâterm slowdown in project execution, likely linked to the lagging rollout of hydrogen hubs and temporary supplyâchain bottlenecks in carbonâfiber resin. In the near term, the market may see a modest pullâback in order intake, but the longerâterm fundamentals stay bullish as regulators lockâin subsidies and utilities shift capex from fossil to cleanâgas infrastructure.
Demand for compositeâcylinder technology & trade implications â Composite cylinders remain the only viable solution for ultraâlight, highâpressure hydrogen and biomethane transport, giving Hexagon a durable moat. The revenue contraction is more a timing issue than a loss of market share; order books in Q3âQ4 are already reporting a pipeline of $200âŻM+ in hydrogenârefuelingâstation contracts and offshore windâtoâhydrogen projects. Technically, HEX shares have broken below the 50âday SMA and are testing the lower Bollinger band, with RSI hovering around 35, suggesting oversold conditions. A cautious shortâterm bias (sellâorâwait) is warranted until the stock stabilises above the 200âday MA, but a mediumâterm long position could be justified on the basis of a sectorâwide 2026â2028 upside of 25â30âŻ% as cleanâgas adoption accelerates. Traders might consider a 2â3âŻmonth put spread to hedge downside risk while positioning a small callâoption âbuyâtheâdipâ play near the next resistance level (~NOKâŻ9.5).