Qi Huo Ri Bao·2025-10-11 23:59Core Viewpoint - The steel industry is experiencing a recovery despite an overall downturn, with several companies, including Shandong Steel, reporting significant improvements in profitability and operational performance [1][5]. Group 1: Company Performance - Shandong Steel expects a profit of approximately 632 million yuan for the first three quarters of 2025, a year-on-year increase of about 2.196 billion yuan [1]. - The company reported a net profit attributable to shareholders of around 140 million yuan, up approximately 15.91% year-on-year [1]. - Shandong Steel's half-year report indicated a revenue of 36.806 billion yuan, a decrease of 18.60% year-on-year, but a gross margin increase to 6.02%, up 4.15 percentage points [1]. - Other steel companies, such as Liugang Co., Anyang Steel, and New Steel, also reported improved profitability, with many turning losses into profits or significantly reducing losses [1][6]. Group 2: Industry Trends - The overall steel industry in China saw a 5.79% decline in revenue for key enterprises, while total profits increased by 63.26% year-on-year [6][7]. - The steel price index dropped by 7.09%, with specific products experiencing varying price declines [6]. - The profitability recovery is attributed to lower raw material costs and improved risk management practices among steel companies [5][12]. Group 3: Risk Management and Hedging - Steel companies are increasingly using hedging strategies to manage risks associated with price and currency fluctuations [10][11]. - Companies like Liugang and others have engaged in futures trading to hedge against raw material price volatility, effectively stabilizing their operational costs [10][12]. - The core value of hedging is to stabilize raw material costs, smooth out foreign exchange impacts, and enhance predictability of performance [12].