Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for several companies in the coal industry, including Lu'an Huanneng, Huayang Co., Shanmei International, China Shenhua, Zhongmei Energy, Shaanxi Coal, and Jinkong Coal [4]. Core Insights - The Inner Mongolia Energy Bureau has confirmed the overproduction of coal, with a theoretical reduction in raw coal output of 61.17 million tons year-on-year for 2024 [1]. - In 2024, Inner Mongolia's coal production exceeded the approved capacity by 61.17 million tons, representing an overproduction rate of 4.95% [1]. - The report anticipates a continued contraction in supply due to strict enforcement of overproduction regulations, which could theoretically impact supply by approximately 400 million tons [3]. - The demand for thermal coal is expected to gradually increase as the market transitions from the off-peak season, with a potential price rebound supported by declining port inventories and ongoing supply restrictions [3]. Summary by Sections Overproduction and Regulatory Actions - A total of 93 coal mines were found to be operating above their approved production capacities in Inner Mongolia, with 30% of the inspected mines exceeding their capacities by over 110% in 2024 [2]. - Approximately 32.2 million tons per year of production capacity is pending verification before resuming operations, affecting 15 mines in the Ordos region [2]. Supply and Demand Dynamics - The report suggests that the supply side is likely to continue contracting, which, combined with seasonal demand increases, may lead to a recovery in coal prices back to levels seen in Q3 2024 [3]. - The report highlights that traders are currently cautious, but the fundamentals are improving, which could support a price increase [3]. Investment Recommendations - The report recommends focusing on companies with high spot market exposure, stable performance, and growth potential, including Lu'an Huanneng, Jinkong Coal, and industry leaders like China Shenhua and Zhongmei Energy [3].

Summary of the Conference Call for China Coal Energy Industry Overview - The coal market experienced fluctuations in August, with thermal coal prices at ports reaching 697 RMB/ton, a month-on-month increase of 6.4% but a year-on-year decrease of 17.4% [2][5] - The coking coal market showed a decline, with Shanxi low-sulfur coking coal prices at 1,471 RMB/ton, down 30 RMB/ton (2% decrease) month-on-month and down 10% year-on-year [2][6] - The urea market remained weak, with average prices around 1,750 RMB/ton, a 14% year-on-year decline [2][7] - Polyolefin prices averaged about 7,500 RMB/ton, a slight decrease of 5% year-on-year, with expected price ranges for polyethylene and polypropylene in September [2][8] Company Performance - For the first eight months of the year, China Coal Energy produced 89.99 million tons of commercial coal, a decrease of 420,000 tons year-on-year, while sales were 170 million tons, down 10.2 million tons year-on-year [3] - The company’s self-produced coal sales increased by 1.71 million tons, indicating a shift from trade and agency coal [3] - Urea production increased by 24.5% year-on-year to 1.415 million tons, while methanol production rose by 22.2% to 1.317 million tons [3] - The company achieved a profit increase of approximately 2.1 billion RMB in the first half of the year through cost reduction measures [2][9] Market Outlook - The thermal coal market is expected to remain weak in September, with prices projected to fluctuate between 665-695 RMB/ton due to reduced demand from power plants and increased willingness from traders to sell [2][5] - The coking coal market is anticipated to stabilize, with prices for Shanxi low-sulfur coking coal expected between 1,300-1,470 RMB/ton [2][6] - The urea market is expected to continue its weak trend, with prices projected between 1,650-1,700 RMB/ton [2][8] - Polyolefin prices are expected to stabilize, with polyethylene and polypropylene prices projected within specified ranges [2][8] Cost Management - The company has implemented various cost reduction measures, resulting in stable costs in the third quarter compared to the second quarter, with expectations for annual costs to be lower than the previous year [9][20] - The company’s long-term contract fulfillment rate remains high, ensuring business stability and customer relationships [10][11] Future Projections - The company maintains an optimistic outlook on thermal coal prices, expecting them to fluctuate around a benchmark price of 675 RMB/ton, with potential highs exceeding 700 RMB [4][13] - The company’s coal chemical business is expected to remain profitable, with the resumption of operations in the second half of the year anticipated to offset losses incurred during maintenance [22] Additional Insights - The company is actively monitoring regulatory impacts from the Energy Bureau's recent directives, which are expected to have a limited effect on operations [16][17] - New mining projects, Li Bi and Wei Zi Gou, are on track for trial production in the second half of 2026 [15]

Group 1 - The report highlights a rebound in coal prices during the peak season, driven by improved demand for thermal coal and the recovery of coking coal prices due to better steel profits [2][4][45] - The supply side shows a slowdown in domestic production growth and a year-on-year decline in import volumes, indicating a tightening supply situation [4][40][79] - The report emphasizes the impact of seasonal adjustments in railway freight rates, which are expected to enhance the volatility of coal prices [11][12][79] Group 2 - The analysis indicates that the steel industry maintains a resilient demand for coal, with low inventory levels potentially supporting price rebounds [46][51][72] - The report forecasts a marginal improvement in thermal coal demand as the winter heating season approaches, with expected price levels between 700-750 yuan/ton [79] - Recommendations include undervalued elastic stocks such as Shanxi Coking Coal, Huaibei Mining, and Lu'an Energy, as well as stable high-dividend stocks like China Shenhua and Shaanxi Coal [79]

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Recommended" rating for the coal mining industry [1] Core Insights - In August, coal production continued to decline, while thermal power demand showed year-on-year growth, and coal prices increased significantly month-on-month [1][11] - The overall coal supply in August decreased by 3.6% year-on-year, with a narrowing decline compared to July [25] - The report highlights a positive outlook for coal companies due to high cash flow, profitability, and dividend yields, suggesting a focus on value attributes in the coal sector [11] Supply Analysis - In August, the industrial raw coal production was 390 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 3.2%, with the decline narrowing by 0.6 percentage points compared to July [17][19] - Daily average production in August was 12.6 million tons, an increase of 307,000 tons per day month-on-month, but a decrease of 195,000 tons per day year-on-year [19] - Coal imports in August were 42.74 million tons, down 6.77% year-on-year, with the decline narrowing by 16 percentage points compared to July [24] Demand Analysis - Thermal power demand in August increased by 1.7% year-on-year, although the growth rate slowed by 2.6 percentage points compared to July [26] - The total industrial electricity generation in August was 936.3 billion kWh, a year-on-year increase of 1.6% [18] - The report notes that the construction and manufacturing sectors showed slight slowdowns, while the real estate market remained weak [34] Inventory and Price Trends - By the end of August, coal inventories at northern ports decreased by 2.505 million tons to 22.232 million tons, showing a significant reduction year-on-year [10] - The report indicates that the coal price at Qinhuangdao port for 5500 kcal coal increased by 51.37 CNY/ton month-on-month, reflecting a rise of 8.05% [11] Company Focus and Recommendations - The report emphasizes the importance of focusing on robust companies such as China Shenhua, Shaanxi Coal, and China Coal Energy, which exhibit strong financial health and growth potential [11] - It suggests that investors consider companies with high dividend yields and cash flow, highlighting the investment value of coal stocks in the current market environment [11]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the report indicates that steel mill profitability continues to be under pressure, which is expected to lead to a further decline in coking coal prices in the short term. However, due to a strong increase in July, the baseline coking coal price forecast for 2025 to 2027 has been raised by 7% to 13% [1] - The current valuation level of the domestic coal sector lacks attractiveness, leading the company to maintain a "neutral" rating for the industry [1] - The rating for China Coal Energy (601898) has been downgraded to "sell" due to the expectation of negative free cash flow for the year and the management's apparent unwillingness to increase the dividend payout ratio. The forecasted dividend yield for 2025 to 2027 is only 3.7% to 3.9%, with the target price reduced from HKD 7.39 to HKD 7.21. Additionally, the company's earnings forecast for 2025 to 2027 has been cut by 10% to 16% in response to the latest coal price expectations [1] Group 2 - Despite the current market expectations of relatively low coal inventory levels at domestic ports, which could support winter spot thermal coal prices, the overall forecast for spot coal prices for the year has been lowered by 4% due to disappointing price levels in the second quarter [1] - China Shenhua (601088) demonstrated resilient profitability in its interim results, with the smallest decline in unit profits for its coal business during the coal price drop in the first half of the year. The company maintains a "hold" rating, with the target price increased from HKD 32.18 to HKD 39.48 [1]

该行将中煤能源评级降至"沽售"，因公司今年可能录得负数自由现金流，管理层似乎无意提高派息比 例，2025至2027年预测股息回报率仅达3.7%至3.9%，目标价从7.39港元降至7.21港元。该行又指，中国 神华中期业绩展示出盈利具韧性，在上半年煤价下跌期间，其煤炭业务单位利润降幅为最小，维持"持 有"评级，目标价由32.18港元上调至39.48港元。 中银国际发表研究报告指，虽然目前市场预期国内港口煤炭库存水平相对偏低，可为冬季现货动力煤价 格带来支持，但考虑到第二季价格水平逊预期，仍将今年全年现货煤价预测下调4%。该行认为，内地 煤炭板块当前估值水平缺乏吸引力，维持行业"中性"评级。 ...

Core Viewpoint - The coal industry is experiencing a downward trend in prices, with significant declines in both thermal and coking coal prices in the first half of 2025 compared to the previous year [2][3]. Price Trends - In H1 2025, the average price of Qinhuangdao thermal coal (Shanxi origin) Q5500 was 676 CNY/ton, down 22.8% year-on-year. In Q2 2025, the price dropped significantly to an average of 632 CNY/ton, a decrease of 12.4% quarter-on-quarter [1][2]. - The average price of coking coal at Jingtang Port (Shanxi origin) in H1 2025 was 1379 CNY/ton, down 38.8% year-on-year, with Q2 2025 averaging 1315 CNY/ton, a quarter-on-quarter decline of 8.8% [1][2]. Company Performance - In H1 2025, 27 listed coal companies (excluding Shanxi Coking Coal) produced a total of 610 million tons of coal, a year-on-year increase of 2.5%, but sales fell to 650 million tons, down 5.4% year-on-year. The total revenue for these companies was 538.4 billion CNY, a decrease of 18.1% year-on-year, and net profit attributable to shareholders was 56 billion CNY, down 31.7% year-on-year [3][4]. - The weighted average gross margin for these companies was 28.8%, down 2.1 percentage points year-on-year, while the net margin was 13.3%, down 2.6 percentage points year-on-year. The weighted average return on equity (ROE) was 4.8%, down 2.5 percentage points year-on-year [3]. Future Outlook - The coal price is expected to rebound due to policy support and market dynamics, with thermal coal prices projected to recover to long-term contract prices around 700 CNY/ton. The forecast for thermal coal prices in 2025 is around 750 CNY/ton, with a potential peak at 860 CNY/ton [5][6]. - Coking coal prices are anticipated to be influenced by supply-demand fundamentals, with target prices based on the ratio of coking coal to thermal coal prices. The current ratio suggests target prices for coking coal of 1608 CNY, 1680 CNY, 1800 CNY, and 2064 CNY for various scenarios [6]. - Despite the overall profit pressure in 2025, many coal companies maintain high dividend yields, with six listed companies announcing interim dividend plans totaling 24.13 billion CNY, indicating a strong commitment to shareholder returns [6].

Core Viewpoint - The National Energy Group's Yulin Circular Economy Coal Comprehensive Utilization Project has officially commenced, aiming to enhance national energy security and promote the development of strategic emerging industries [1] Project Overview - The project is part of China's "14th Five-Year Plan" and is one of 102 major projects, focusing on chemical and coal mining, as well as new energy [1] - It includes a total investment of approximately 79.8 billion yuan and covers an area of 559 hectares [1] Technological Innovations - The project will utilize advanced technologies such as coal direct liquefaction and co-processing of alcohols, integrating coal chemical and coal-to-oil processes [1] - It aims to achieve high-end, diversified, and low-carbon transformation of the Yulin coal chemical industry through deep processing of products and coupling with new energy [1] Infrastructure and Capacity - The project will construct 33 sets of process units and supporting public utility projects, including a coal mine with an annual capacity of 13 million tons, two 660 MW ultra-supercritical units, and a 3 million tons/year CCUS facility [1] - Additionally, it will include a 2,900 MW new energy project, with an expected completion and operational date set for 2028 [1]

Investment Rating - The report rates the coal industry as "Overweight" [4]. Core Viewpoints - Coal prices are expected to peak, with pressure remaining in the first half of 2026 but easing compared to the same period in 2025. Demand for electricity coal, combined with the elasticity of coal prices, is likely to lead to prices exceeding 800 RMB/ton in the second half of 2026 [2]. - The report recommends core companies such as China Shenhua, Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry, and China Coal Energy, while continuing to recommend Yanzhou Coal Mining and Jincheng Anthracite Mining [4]. Summary by Sections Demand and Supply Analysis - In July, national electricity consumption increased by 8.6% year-on-year, and thermal power generation rose by 4.3%, indicating a significant improvement in the supply-demand balance [4]. - Raw coal production in July was 380 million tons, a decrease of 40 million tons month-on-month, primarily due to extreme weather in Inner Mongolia and Shaanxi [4]. - For the second half of the year, production is expected to decline slightly due to "overproduction checks," with total production projected at 2.35 to 2.4 billion tons, maintaining year-on-year stability [4]. Price Trends - As of September 12, 2025, the price of Q5500 coal at Huanghua Port was 688 RMB/ton, down 3 RMB/ton (-0.4%) from the previous week [7]. - The price of Q5000 coal at Huanghua Port was 595 RMB/ton, down 8 RMB/ton (-1.3%) from the previous week [10]. - The report notes that domestic coal prices are stabilizing while imports continue to decline, leading to an overall downward trend in supply [4]. Focus on Coking Coal - As of September 12, 2025, the price of main coking coal at Jingtang Port was 1550 RMB/ton, unchanged from the previous week [35]. - The average price of metallurgical coke at major domestic ports was 1653 RMB/ton, down 43 RMB/ton (-2.5%) from the previous week [60]. Inventory and Production Rates - As of September 12, 2025, coking coal inventory at three major ports totaled 2.646 million tons, a decrease of 1.6% from the previous week [51]. - The operating rate of coking enterprises with production over 200 million tons was 79.18%, showing a slight increase [4]. Long-term Contracts - The annual long-term contract price for Q5500 coal at Northern Ports was 674 RMB/ton, up 6 RMB/ton (0.9%) month-on-month [33]. - The report indicates that long-term contract prices for coking coal remained stable compared to the previous week [69].

Group 1 - Coal stocks saw significant gains in the afternoon, with Yanzhou Coal Mining (600188) up 5.81% at HKD 9.83, China Qinfeng (00866) up 3.79% at HKD 3.01, China Shenhua (601088) up 2.42% at HKD 38.02, and China Coal Energy (601898) up 1.06% at HKD 9.57 [1] - On September 15, the domestic coking coal futures market experienced a strong upward trend, with both coking coal and coke futures rising over 5% [1] - A coal mine in Luliang, Shanxi Province, was reported to have suspended operations on September 14, with an uncertain timeline for resumption and a certified production capacity of 1.2 million tons [1] Group 2 - Zheshang Securities (601878) noted that the seasonal expectations in September are suppressing coal prices, with spot prices gradually approaching long-term contracts, indicating a potential bottoming out and rebound in coal prices [1] - As coal prices align more closely with long-term contracts (with low calorific value discounts), downstream purchasing enthusiasm is expected to increase [1] - Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, supply and demand are anticipated to gradually balance, leading to a steady rise in coal prices, maintaining a "positive" outlook for the industry [1]