Hua Xia Shi Bao·2025-03-30 03:46Core Viewpoint - The steel industry continues to face a "frozen period" in 2024, with persistent supply-demand imbalances leading to declining profitability across the sector [2][6][9]. Industry Performance - As of March 25, 2024, seven listed steel companies reported a combined revenue of 359.66 billion yuan and a net profit of 12.32 billion yuan, indicating a significant decline in performance [2]. - Major companies like Fangda Special Steel and Hualing Steel reported net profit drops of over 60% and nearly 60% respectively, highlighting the industry's struggles [2][3]. Financial Results - Hualing Steel's 2024 revenue was 144.11 billion yuan, down 12.07%, with a net profit of 2.03 billion yuan, a 59.99% decrease [3]. - Fangda Special Steel's revenue fell by 18.67% to 21.56 billion yuan, with a net profit decline of 64.02% to 248 million yuan [4]. - In contrast, CITIC Special Steel experienced a smaller decline, with a revenue drop of 4.22% to 109.20 billion yuan and a net profit decrease of 10.41% to 5.13 billion yuan [4]. Market Conditions - The steel market remains weak due to low downstream demand and high raw material prices, with steel prices declining more than raw material prices [6][7]. - In 2024, China's crude steel production is expected to decrease by 1.7% to 1.005 billion tons, while apparent consumption is projected to drop by 5.4% to 892 million tons [6][7]. Challenges and Opportunities - The industry faces both external pressures and internal competition, with significant capacity release but declining demand [8][9]. - Companies that have shifted focus to high-end products, such as Nanjing Steel, have seen profit increases, indicating a potential path for recovery [7][9]. Future Outlook - Despite current challenges, some companies maintain an optimistic outlook for 2025, citing improvements in downstream demand and potential growth in sectors like new energy and high-end equipment manufacturing [9][10]. - Industry experts suggest the need for a new capacity governance mechanism to address supply-demand imbalances and promote technological innovation for higher product value [9][10].