Core Viewpoint - Industrial Securities maintains a "Buy" rating for China Hongqiao (01378), highlighting strong downstream demand for aluminum, particularly in new energy and ultra-high voltage applications, despite a slight decline in alumina prices [1][2] Group 1: Aluminum Market Dynamics - Domestic electrolytic aluminum supply is nearing capacity limits, while demand remains robust, driven by solar energy installations and aluminum exports, leading to a resilient demand for electrolytic aluminum [1] - The average selling price of electrolytic aluminum in H1 2025 was 17,853 RMB per ton, reflecting a quarter-on-quarter increase of 146 RMB and a year-on-year increase of 474 RMB [1] - Electrolytic aluminum sales volume increased by 2.4% year-on-year to 2.91 million tons, while aluminum products and aluminum alloy processing products sales rose by 2.5% year-on-year to 3.3 million tons [1] Group 2: Alumina Market Insights - Alumina prices have declined from the high levels seen in H2 2024, with the external sales price per ton in H1 2025 decreasing by 664 RMB to 3,243 RMB, but still showing a year-on-year increase of 301 RMB [2] - External sales volume of alumina increased by 860,000 tons year-on-year to 6.37 million tons, with gross profit per ton rising by 185 RMB to 933 RMB [2] Group 3: Financial Performance and Capital Expenditure - China Hongqiao's net profit attributable to shareholders for H1 2025 was 12.4 billion RMB, an increase of 3.2 billion RMB year-on-year, but a decrease of 900 million RMB quarter-on-quarter [1] - The company maintained high capital expenditures of 9.89 billion RMB in H1 2025, focusing on capacity relocation in Yunnan, solar projects in Yunnan, and lightweight projects in Shandong [2] - The company has increased interest-bearing liabilities to 75.5 billion RMB, up 4.7 billion RMB quarter-on-quarter, while managing to reduce financing costs [2] Group 4: Shareholder Returns - China Hongqiao has canceled its interim dividend but is expected to maintain a full-year dividend payout ratio of 63% for 2025, similar to 2024 [2] - The company has announced a share buyback plan of no less than 3 billion HKD, having already repurchased approximately 2.6 billion HKD worth of shares, representing 2% of the total shares outstanding as of the end of 2024 [2]