Orient Securities·2025-04-29 01:10Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the paper and light industry [6] Core Viewpoints - The light manufacturing industry index increased by 1.92%, outperforming the market by 1.53 percentage points, with the paper sub-sector rising by 2.14%, exceeding the market by 1.76 percentage points [2][12] - The report highlights a downward trend in pulp prices, with Chilean hardwood pulp prices dropping to $560 per ton, a decrease of $70 per ton, and softwood pulp prices at $770 per ton, down by $55 per ton [4][23] - The report suggests that the industry is entering a seasonal downturn, leading to a reduction in pulp costs, and recommends leading companies in the integrated forest-pulp-paper sector such as Sun Paper (002078, Buy) [4] - The report anticipates a significant slowdown in the growth of new supply in the paper industry by 2025, with overall supply and demand expected to gradually improve [4] Summary by Sections Market Review - The light manufacturing industry index rose by 1.92% from April 21 to April 27, 2025, ranking 7th among 28 first-level industries [12] - The four major sub-sectors of light manufacturing saw varying increases, with packaging and printing leading at 4.39%, followed by cultural products at 2.78%, paper at 2.14%, and furniture at -0.28% [12][17] Industry Chain Data Tracking Raw Materials - Waste paper prices remained stable, while pulp prices and dissolving pulp prices decreased [23] - The national waste paper price (excluding tax) fell by 1 yuan per ton to 1439 yuan per ton [23] - Chilean hardwood pulp prices decreased by $70 per ton, while softwood pulp prices fell by $55 per ton [23][29] Finished Paper - Most paper prices declined, with double glue paper down by 38 yuan per ton, copper plate paper down by 14 yuan per ton, and white card paper down by 39 yuan per ton [37] - High-end corrugated paper prices remained stable, while low-end corrugated paper prices decreased by 47 yuan per ton [37][44] Profitability Levels - Profitability varied among cultural papers, with small paper companies seeing an increase of 17 yuan per ton in double glue paper, while large companies experienced a decrease of 41 yuan per ton [46] - The profitability of white card paper decreased by 17-39 yuan per ton compared to the previous week [49] Production and Inventory - The cumulative production of mechanical paper and paperboard from January to March 2025 was 38.19 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 3.8% [55] - The inventory of finished products in the paper and paper products industry was estimated at 732 billion yuan [22]