Sou Hu Cai Jing·2025-12-26 02:55Core Viewpoint - The steel industry is experiencing a tightening supply trend, with a projected decrease in crude steel production and an increase in exports, indicating a shift towards quality and structural improvements in production policies [1][2]. Supply Side - As of November 2025, the cumulative crude steel production in China reached 890 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 4.04%, with a reduction of 3.8 million tons compared to the same period in 2025 [1]. - The current round of regulatory policies emphasizes innovative capacity governance, focusing on quality and structure rather than merely eliminating ineffective capacity or controlling production levels [1]. Demand Side - By October 2025, China's cumulative steel exports amounted to approximately 110 million tons, an increase of 13.29 million tons year-on-year, with net steel exports accounting for about 13% of crude steel production, nearing the pre-reform high of 15% in 2015 [2]. - Although the demand for construction steel is still declining, the rate of decline is narrowing, indicating that demand is approaching its bottom [2]. - Manufacturing steel demand is expected to remain stable, driven by sectors such as automotive, home appliances, and shipbuilding, along with increased demand from new infrastructure projects like wind power and photovoltaics [2]. Cost Side - Global iron ore demand is expected to decline, with China's industrial structure upgrades leading to reduced steel demand, while growth in other emerging markets is insufficient to offset this decline [3]. - In the first half of 2025, supply looseness has put downward pressure on coking coal prices, with price movements primarily driven by supply adjustments rather than strong demand growth [3]. - The price of scrap steel is expected to remain stable with limited fluctuations, continuing to exert pressure on upstream and downstream profits [3]. Investment Recommendations - The combination of supply-side production controls and more proactive fiscal policies is likely to enhance sector valuations [4]. - Demand for construction steel is stabilizing, while manufacturing steel demand is showing positive trends, with exports shifting towards higher quality and indirect models [4]. - The elimination of outdated capacity is expected to increase the concentration of leading enterprises, with a necessary trend towards high-quality product development [4]. - Recommended companies include industry leaders with product structure advantages such as Baosteel (600019.SH), Nanjing Steel (600282.SH), and Hualing Steel (000932.SZ), as well as special steel companies with high barriers and added value like CITIC Special Steel (000708.SZ), Jiuli Special Materials (002318.SZ), and Yongjin Co., Ltd. (603995.SH) [4].