2 1 Shi Ji Jing Ji Bao Dao·2025-05-15 09:11Core Viewpoint - The Chinese traditional medicine industry is experiencing collective anxiety due to insufficient effective demand, accelerated industry transformation, policy changes, and intense market competition [1] Industry Performance Overview - The performance of traditional Chinese medicine companies in 2024 and the first quarter of 2025 shows a diverging trend, with some companies achieving stable growth through brand advantages and product innovation, while others face revenue declines and profit pressures [1][3] - In 2024, Baiyunshan led the industry with a revenue of 749.93 billion yuan, but experienced a slight decline of 0.69% year-on-year, indicating growth challenges for traditional giants [3][6] - Yunnan Baiyao and China Resources Sanjiu followed with revenues of 400.33 billion yuan and 276.17 billion yuan, reflecting year-on-year growth rates of 2.36% and 11.63%, respectively [3][6] - In the first quarter of 2025, leading companies continued to show growth, while trailing companies remained under pressure [1][6] Profitability Insights - Yunnan Baiyao reported a net profit of 47.67 billion yuan in 2024, maintaining a growth rate of 15.63%, while Pizhou's net profit reached 29.96 billion yuan, aligning with its revenue growth [6] - Daren Tang emerged as a "profit dark horse" with a net profit increase of 128.68% year-on-year, while Dong'e Ejiao's net profit grew by 25.57% due to product price increases and channel optimization [6][1] R&D and Sales Expenses - In 2024, the highest R&D investment was from Tianshili, amounting to 1.039 billion yuan, representing 12.23% of its revenue [6][7] - Sales expenses were highest for China Resources Sanjiu at 72.20 billion yuan, followed by Baiyunshan at 56.20 billion yuan [7] - The overall R&D investment among the top 20 companies indicates a need for improvement, especially in innovative drug development and modern Chinese medicine technology applications [7] Market Challenges and Strategic Responses - The unique product strategy, once a cash cow for many companies, is now facing challenges due to adjustments in medical insurance directories and expanded centralized procurement [9][10] - Companies like Step Long Pharmaceutical have reported significant losses due to high sales expenses and declining core product revenues [1][6] - The industry is witnessing a trend where companies are either "slimming down" by divesting non-core assets or "bulking up" through mergers and acquisitions to strengthen their market position [14][15] Future Outlook - The ongoing centralized procurement and market dynamics necessitate that companies balance pricing and market share while building brand moats [12][14] - Companies with unique proprietary formulas, such as Pizhou and Yunnan Baiyao, are better positioned to withstand market fluctuations compared to those reliant on single products without strong patent protection [11][12]