Group 1: Export Performance - July export growth was 7.2%, up 1.3 percentage points from the previous month, exceeding the Wind consensus expectation of 5.8%[5] - Exports to the US decreased by 21.7%, a decline that expanded by 5.5 percentage points from the previous month[6] - Exports to the EU increased by 9.2%, with exports to Germany rising significantly by 13.1%[6] Group 2: Regional Export Trends - Exports to ASEAN maintained resilience with a growth rate of 16.6%[6] - Exports to Latin America rebounded with a growth rate of 7.7%[6] - Exports to Canada accelerated with a growth rate of 6.7%[6] Group 3: Product Category Insights - Labor-intensive product exports saw a decline, with bag exports at -10.0% and clothing at -0.6%[7] - Mechanical and electrical products supported export growth, with a growth rate of 8.0%, contributing 4.8 percentage points to overall export growth[7] - High-tech product exports grew by 4.2%, contributing 1.1 percentage points to export growth[7] Group 4: Import Trends - July imports increased by 4.1%, a significant rise of 3.0 percentage points from the previous month[8] - Energy product imports showed structural improvement, with copper ore imports up by 26.4%[8] - Agricultural product imports continued to recover, with a growth rate of 5.1%, up 3.2 percentage points from the previous month[8] Group 5: Future Export Pressures - Export pressures are expected to increase due to potential impacts from new tariffs imposed by the US, ranging from 10% to 41%[10] - The "rush to export" effect may manifest more significantly in Q4, compounded by base pressure, leading to further downward pressure on export growth[10]

Employment Data - In July, the U.S. non-farm payrolls increased by 73,000, significantly below the expected 106,000 and the previous value of 14,000[3] - The unemployment rate slightly rose to 4.2%, with the previous value at 4.1% and the forecast at 4.3%[3] - The Labor Department revised the non-farm employment data for May and June, with May's initial value of 139,000 adjusted down to 19,000 and June's from 147,000 to 14,000, totaling a downward revision of 253,000[3] Labor Market Trends - The average monthly job growth over the past three months is now only 35,000, a sharp decline from the first quarter's average of 111,000, indicating a potential overestimation of previous employment strength[3] - The labor force participation rate decreased to 62.2%, contributing to the stability of the unemployment rate despite job losses[10] - The number of foreign-born workers decreased by 1.241 million from January to July, while the domestic-born workforce increased by 3.073 million, affecting overall labor supply[12] Market Reactions and Federal Reserve Implications - Following the employment data release, U.S. stock markets fell, bond yields declined, and the dollar weakened, reflecting heightened market risk aversion[5] - The disappointing employment figures have led to increased market expectations for the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates by 25 basis points in September and October[5] - Key factors for the Fed's decision will include inflation data for July and August and the potential impact of political pressures from the Trump administration[15]

Production Side - As of the fourth week of July, the blast furnace operating rate was 83.48%, stable compared to the previous period and above last year's average[19] - The rebar operating rate increased to 43.95%, up 2.38 percentage points from the previous period, exceeding last year's average[19] - The cement mill operating rate recorded 36.95%, a slight decrease compared to the previous period[19] - The asphalt inventory saw a significant decline, indicating an acceleration in physical work volume in the infrastructure sector[7] Demand Side - In July, the real estate market remained weak, with the transaction area of commercial housing in 30 cities down by 27.43% month-on-month and 11.26% year-on-year[7] - The average daily sales of passenger cars were 53,006.50 units, reflecting a month-on-month decrease of 21.88%[8] - The total box office revenue for movies was 84,200.00 million yuan, showing a month-on-month increase of 99.53% but a year-on-year decline of 14.85%[8] Trade and Prices - The CCFI (China Containerized Freight Index) rose to 1,305.40, with a month-on-month growth of 2.19%[9] - The SCFI (Shanghai Containerized Freight Index) decreased to 1,684.07, reflecting a month-on-month decline of 16.42%[9] - The CPI showed a mild increase in consumer prices, while industrial product prices fluctuated, with PPI pressures from weak energy prices[9]

Report Summary 1. Investment Rating No investment rating for the industry is provided in the report. 2. Core Viewpoints - The economic situation judgment is optimistically cautious, with the macro - policy emphasizing continuity and stability, and leaving room for policy adjustment. The "15th Five - Year Plan" is set to play a crucial role in China's modernization process [7]. - Monetary policy remains moderately loose, with a possibility of reserve requirement ratio cuts and interest rate cuts. Structural tools are emphasized for targeted support [8]. - Fiscal policy is more proactive, with accelerated implementation of existing policies and potential new policies in consumption, technology, and foreign trade [14]. - The mid - term bond market yield is expected to continue its downward trend despite recent upward fluctuations [18]. 3. Summary by Directory 3.1 Economic Situation and "15th Five - Year Plan" - The current macro - economy is stable with progress but still faces challenges. Macro - policies aim to maintain the upward trend, with a focus on stabilizing employment, enterprises, markets, and expectations [7]. - The "15th Five - Year Plan" is a key stage for China's modernization, with a dual mission of connecting the "14th Five - Year Plan" and the 2035 vision [7]. 3.2 Monetary Policy - The moderate - loose tone of monetary policy remains unchanged. The focus shifts to the priority of structural tools over aggregate ones, with an emphasis on guiding funds to the real economy [8]. - There is a possibility of interest rate cuts in the second half of the year due to factors such as the differentiated structural economic recovery, expected Fed rate cuts, and historical rate - cut rhythms [10][12]. 3.3 Fiscal Policy - Fiscal policy remains proactive, with a focus on accelerating the issuance and use of government bonds and ensuring the bottom - line of "Three Guarantees" at the grassroots level [14]. - In the second half of the year, the implementation of existing fiscal policies will accelerate, and new policies may be introduced to support consumption, technology, and foreign trade [17]. 3.4 Bond Market - The recent rise in bond yields is due to the resonance of economic fundamentals, policy, and capital factors. The 10 - year Treasury bond yield rose from about 1.65% to 1.75% in mid - to late July [18]. - Considering the policy's emphasis on continuity and stability and the economic weak - recovery reality, the mid - term bond yield is expected to continue its downward trend [18][19].

Production Insights - As of the fourth week of July, the national blast furnace operating rate was 83.48%, stable compared to the previous period and above last year's average[11] - The rebar operating rate increased to 43.95%, up by 2.38 percentage points from the previous period, also above last year's average[11] - The cement mill operating rate recorded 36.95%, showing a slight decline compared to the previous period[3] Inventory and Capacity Utilization - As of the fourth week of July, rebar inventory decreased by 4.29% compared to the previous period, indicating a reduction in stock levels[27] - The capacity utilization rate for electric furnaces was 53.48%, up by 2.51 percentage points from the previous month, slightly above last year's average[46] - Cement clinker capacity utilization was 58.10%, down by 0.45 percentage points from the previous month, below last year's average[46] Demand Trends - In July, the sales area of commercial housing in 30 cities decreased by 27.43% month-on-month and 11.26% year-on-year[4] - The average daily sales of passenger cars were 53,006.50 units, reflecting a month-on-month decline of 21.88%[4] - The volume of postal express collection was 3.704 billion pieces, down by 5.29% month-on-month but up by 15.14% year-on-year[4] Price Movements - The average price of cement was 338.17 yuan/ton, down by 0.33% month-on-month, below last year's average[67] - The price of rebar increased by 4.14% month-on-month to 3,310.40 yuan/ton, still below last year's average[68] - The price of asphalt rose by 0.40% month-on-month to 3,823.00 yuan/ton, above last year's average[69]

Economic Overview - The actual GDP growth rate for the US in Q2 was 3%, exceeding expectations of 2.6% and the previous value of -0.5%[3] - The contribution of net exports to GDP shifted from a drag of -4.61% in Q1 to a boost of 4.99% in Q2[3] - Inventory contributions turned negative at -3.17% in Q2, compared to a positive contribution of 2.59% in Q1[3] Consumption Insights - Consumer spending showed a mild recovery with a year-on-year growth of 1.4%, up from 0.5% in the previous quarter[4] - Durable goods consumption improved from -0.28% to 0.27%, while service consumption rose from 0.30% to 0.53%[4] - Non-durable goods consumption declined, contributing 0.18% compared to 0.29% in Q1, reflecting the impact of tariff policies[4] Investment Trends - Private investment decreased significantly, with an overall growth rate of -3.09% in Q2, down from 3.9% in Q1[4] - Equipment investment's contribution to GDP fell from 1.11% to 0.26%, despite knowledge-based investments maintaining growth[4] - Residential and construction investments continued to face pressure in a high-interest-rate environment, with contributions declining further[4] Trade and Inventory Dynamics - Imports decreased by 30.3% in Q2, a smaller decline than the previous quarter's increase of 37.9%[5] - Exports turned negative at -1.8% due to the impact of tariffs, indicating a shift in trade dynamics[5] - Inventory consumption in Q2 was greater than the accumulation in Q1, contributing -3.17% to GDP[5] Government Spending - Federal government spending remained low, contributing only 0.08% to GDP, while state and local government spending increased to 0.32%[5] - Defense spending rebounded to 0.08%, while non-defense spending continued to decline[5] Future Outlook - The economic growth in Q2 relied heavily on trade fluctuations, with weak performance in consumption, investment, and government spending[11] - The expectation of continued pressure on consumption and investment in Q3 due to tariff impacts and delayed interest rate cuts from the Federal Reserve[11] - The upcoming quarter is critical for assessing economic risks, particularly regarding inflation and labor market changes[12]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the copper industry is Neutral, which has been downgraded [7] Core Insights - The significant drop in copper prices is attributed to the U.S. government's unexpected policy shift regarding tariffs on copper imports, which did not meet market expectations [4][5] - The U.S. is highly dependent on imported refined copper, with 2024 consumption projected at 1.545 million tons and domestic production at 826,000 tons, leading to a compromise in tariff policy to protect domestic manufacturing [5] - Short-term impacts include increased price volatility, a return to average price differentials between COMEX and LME copper, and rising U.S. copper inventories due to trade shifts [5] - Mid-term expectations suggest a return to fundamental pricing logic as the tariff policy stabilizes, with potential for price recovery during the fourth quarter production peak [5] - Long-term supply constraints remain, with challenges in copper mining exploration and development, supporting a bullish outlook for copper prices [9] Summary by Sections - **Tariff Policy Impact**: The U.S. imposed a 50% tariff on copper semi-finished products and high-copper derivatives, leading to a significant market reaction with a 17.88% drop in COMEX copper futures [3][4] - **Market Dynamics**: The initial expectation of comprehensive tariffs led to speculative trading, which was disrupted by the actual policy announcement, resulting in a historical price drop [4] - **Supply and Demand Outlook**: The long-term supply bottleneck in copper mining and the increasing importance of copper in electrical and AI industries suggest a sustained upward price trend despite short-term volatility [9]

Historical Context - From 1949 to 1977, China's monetary policy served as an administrative tool under a unified banking system, lacking market foundations and credit creation mechanisms[3][4]. - Post-1978, the separation of central and commercial banking functions led to an independent monetary policy framework, establishing a dual-layer currency creation mechanism[4][5]. Transition Phases - From 1998 to 2012, a quantity-based control system emerged, with M2 and total credit volume as core targets, driven by non-market interest rates and external pressures[5][6]. - After 2012, the effectiveness of quantity tools diminished, prompting a shift towards price-based monetary policy, with interest rates becoming central to regulation[6][7]. Structural Changes - By 2020, the proportion of new RMB loans in total social financing dropped from 91.9% in 2002 to 57.5%, indicating a shift towards off-balance-sheet financing[7][30]. - The balance of current accounts as a percentage of GDP decreased from around 10% in 2007 to below 3% post-2011, reflecting changes in foreign exchange reserves and monetary policy dynamics[7][34]. Policy Mechanisms - The establishment of a rate corridor in 2015 clarified policy signals, with the SLF as the upper limit and excess reserve rates as the lower limit, enhancing market expectations[9][10]. - As of 2023, the monetary policy framework has been optimized to strengthen the price-oriented function of policy rates, narrowing the rate corridor from 245 basis points to 70 basis points[10][11]. Future Outlook - The price-based framework is expected to deepen, with structural monetary policy tools gaining priority to address financing gaps in emerging sectors like technology and green industries[12][11]. - The focus will shift from total quantity control to structural optimization, emphasizing targeted resource allocation in key areas such as housing and infrastructure[12][11].

GDP Performance - In Q2, China's GDP grew by 5.2% year-on-year, while nominal GDP growth was only 3.9%, indicating a mismatch between supply and demand[3] - The deflator index further expanded to -1.3%, highlighting weak price levels[3] Production Insights - Industrial value-added growth was 6.8% in June, with a Q2 average of 6.4%, driven by strong exports[14] - The service sector maintained stable growth, with a cumulative production index increase of 5.9%[14] Investment Trends - Fixed asset investment growth slowed to 2.8% in Q2, down 1.4 percentage points from Q1[22] - Infrastructure investment growth was 8.9%, while real estate investment saw a significant decline of -12.9% in June, with a cumulative decline of -11.2%[24] Consumption Patterns - Retail sales grew by 4.6% year-on-year in Q2, a decrease from Q1, with durable goods consumption supported by "old-for-new" policies[39] - Restaurant consumption weakened significantly, with June's growth plummeting to 0.9%[39] Outlook and Policy Recommendations - To meet the annual GDP target of 5%, a growth rate of at least 4.7% is required in the second half of the year[42] - Continued policy support is essential to boost domestic demand, particularly in real estate and manufacturing sectors[42] Risk Factors - Potential risks include domestic policy implementation falling short of expectations and unexpected changes in overseas policies[43]

Group 1: Export Performance - June export growth rate was 5.9%, up 1.2 percentage points from the previous month, exceeding the Wind consensus forecast by 2.7 percentage points[3] - Cumulative export growth for the first half of the year was 5.9%, slightly higher than last year's full-year growth of 5.8%[3] - Trade surplus for the first half of the year reached $585.95 billion, a year-on-year increase of 34.52%, surpassing last year's growth of 20.7%[3] Group 2: Regional Export Trends - Exports to the U.S. decreased by 16.1%, but the decline narrowed by 18.4 percentage points from the previous month, with U.S. exports accounting for 12% of total exports[4] - Exports to ASEAN countries maintained high growth at 16.9%, with Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines showing growth rates of 23.8%, 27.9%, and 10.2% respectively[4] - Exports to the EU grew by 7.6%, down 4.4 percentage points from the previous month, with Germany's export growth slowing to 3.5%[4] Group 3: Product-Specific Insights - Labor-intensive product exports showed improvement, with declines narrowing to -7.1% for bags, -1.6% for textiles, and -4.0% for footwear[5] - Mechanical and high-tech product exports grew by 8.2% and 6.9% respectively, with integrated circuits, automobiles, and ships showing high growth rates of 24.2%, 23.1%, and 23.6%[5] - The contribution of mechanical products to export growth was 4.8 percentage points, while high-tech products contributed 1.6 percentage points[5] Group 4: Import Trends - Import growth returned to positive territory at 1.1%, a significant rebound of 4.5 percentage points from the previous month[6] - Mechanical and high-tech products were the main drivers of import growth, with rates of 6.4% and 10.0% respectively[6] - Energy product imports faced declines, with coal, crude oil, and natural gas showing decreases of -44.7%, -15.0%, and -5.9% respectively due to falling prices[6] Group 5: Future Outlook - Short-term export resilience is expected to continue, supported by tariff exemptions and ongoing "export grabbing" strategies[7] - However, medium to long-term pressures may build due to the expiration of tariff exemptions and potential demand exhaustion[7] - Risks include unexpected changes in overseas policies and slower-than-expected economic recovery abroad[8]