尿素 缺乏回升动能

Core Viewpoint - After the National Day holiday, the price of urea futures has reached a new low for the year, with total open interest increasing significantly, indicating a market in a phase of delayed demand release, limited supply contraction, and undecided policies [1] Demand Dynamics - The demand for urea is currently characterized by delayed release and structural differentiation, with initial signs of recovery in autumn fertilizer demand following the end of rainfall in North China, but downstream stocking enthusiasm remains low [2][4] - The price of small granular urea has recently dropped to around 1500 yuan/ton, a 14.53% decrease compared to the same period last year, with some regions seeing spot prices fall to 1460 yuan/ton, marking a yearly low [4] Industrial Demand - Industrial demand for urea shows a differentiated pattern, with compound fertilizer companies holding 735,000 tons of finished product inventory and a low operating rate of 25.5% year-on-year [5] - The decline in urea prices has led to increased profits for melamine, with theoretical gross margins rising to 400 yuan/ton, while the board industry faces reduced production due to persistent humid weather [5] Supply Situation - Short-term supply contraction is limited, with urea daily production dropping from around 200,000 tons to nearly 190,000 tons due to maintenance, but still at a high level compared to the past five years [6][8] - The impact of maintenance on production is expected to be minimal, with only a few companies announcing specific maintenance schedules [9] Policy and Export Outlook - In September, China's urea exports reached 1 million tons, but the cumulative export volume from January to September was only 2.44 million tons, far below the annual quota of 4.2 million tons [10] - The upcoming tender from India for 2 million tons of urea presents a significant opportunity for domestic companies to reduce inventory, contingent on the extension of the export window and potential adjustments to export pricing policies [10] Price Guidance - The China Nitrogen Fertilizer Industry Association has issued a quarterly guidance price for urea, indicating a clear intention to support prices, although practical implementation remains questionable [11] - Urea inventory has risen to a high of 1.4439 million tons, which is expected to suppress upward price movement in the short term [11][13] Market Sentiment - The emergence of low prices has led to marginal improvements in the urea fundamentals, with futures prices finding support around 1600 yuan/ton, but the market still faces significant supply-demand pressures [13]