Report Information - Analyst: He Hui, Energy and Chemical Team, including Guo Jianfeng, Guo Yanpeng, and Li Qian [2] - Company: Zhonghui Futures Co., Ltd. - Date: May 30, 2025 [2] Investment Rating - Not provided in the report Core Viewpoints - In May, the domestic and overseas macroeconomic situation did not improve significantly, and the commodity market was weak. The soda ash futures market was also in a downward trend, searching for a bottom. [3] - Soda ash is facing a situation of over - capacity, insufficient demand, and cost collapse. In the short term, it is difficult to find supply - demand drivers, while in the long - term, it is anchored to natural soda ash cost and demand growth rate. [3] Market Review Futures Market - As of May 30, the SA2509 contract closed at 1,190 yuan/ton, with a monthly change of - 12% (a decrease of 165 yuan) [6] 现货市场 - In May, the prices of heavy soda ash were differentiated, with most prices decreasing by 50 yuan/ton, a change ranging from - 5.1% to 3.2% [6] Basis - In May, the spot price of soda ash was weak, while the futures price was even weaker, resulting in a stronger basis. The basis of the main SA509 contract (against Shahe heavy soda ash) was 40 points, with a basis rate of 3.3% [8] Inter - month Spread - The SA09 - 01 contract spread was 2 points, changing from negative to positive, showing a flat - water structure. The SA01 - 05 contract spread was - 52 points, indicating a weaker expectation for the far - month contract [11] Term Structure and Inter - commodity Spread - The soda ash futures market changed from a contango structure to a near - month back flat - water structure, compressing the downward space. The FG - SA09 contract spread was about - 200, and the long - glass short - soda ash spread had a profit of 100 points from - 300 [13] Supply Analysis Device Maintenance and New Capacity - Currently, the maintenance devices of soda ash plants are gradually restarting, and new capacities are being put into production one after another. In 2025, the total planned new capacity is 590 tons/year [17][18] Operating Rate - In May, the comprehensive operating rate of soda ash decreased significantly. Currently, the national operating rate is 78.57% (a month - on - month decrease of 10.87%), with the ammonia - soda process operating rate at 71.41% (a month - on - month decrease of 15.71%) and the combined - soda process operating rate at 76.54% (a month - on - month decrease of 10.58%) [20] Production - In May, the weekly average production of soda ash was 70.32 tons, with the estimated monthly production at 311.41 tons, a month - on - month decrease of 1.9% and a year - on - year decrease of 1.1%. The weekly average production of heavy soda ash was 38.38 tons, with the estimated monthly production at 170 tons, a month - on - month decrease of 2.4% and a year - on - year decrease of 5.1% [31][34] Demand Analysis Glass Melting Volume - Currently, the daily melting volume of float glass is 15.77 tons, a month - on - month increase of 0.32% and a year - on - year decrease of 8.25%. The daily melting volume of photovoltaic glass is 9.88 tons, a month - on - month increase of 0.61% and a year - on - year decrease of 13% [39] Total Melting Volume - In May, the average daily total production of float glass and photovoltaic glass was 25.55 tons, a month - on - month increase of 0.5% and a year - on - year decrease of 9.9% [42] Supply - demand Gap of Heavy Soda Ash - In May, the estimated monthly demand for heavy soda ash was 158.4 tons, and the supply - demand surplus was 11.55 tons, still in a state of oversupply [43] Inventory Analysis Total Inventory - Currently, the total inventory of domestic soda ash manufacturers is 162.43 tons, a month - on - month decrease of 3.94% and a year - on - year increase of 98.52%. The available inventory days are 13.47 days, a month - on - month decrease of 0.43 days and a year - on - year increase of 6.6 days [51] Inventory of Heavy and Light Soda Ash - Currently, the inventory of heavy soda ash is 80.6 tons, a month - on - month decrease of 4.1% and a year - on - year increase of 76.95%. The inventory of light soda ash is 81.83 tons, a month - on - month decrease of 3.79% and a year - on - year increase of 125.6% [54] Cost and Profit Analysis Cost - Currently, the production cost of the ammonia - soda process is 1,283 yuan/ton, a month - on - month decrease of 7.23% and a year - on - year decrease of 26.39%. The production cost of the combined - soda process (double - ton) is 1,610 yuan/ton (75% single - ton cost is 1,208 yuan), a month - on - month decrease of 2.1% and a year - on - year decrease of 19.1% [58] Profit - Currently, the production profit of the ammonia - soda process is 67.2 yuan/ton, a month - on - month increase of 49.7 yuan/ton and a year - on - year decrease of 85.28%. The production profit of the combined - soda process is 215 yuan/ton, a month - on - month decrease of 40.5 yuan/ton and a year - on - year decrease of 78.49% [60] Trading Strategies Single - side Strategy - Currently, the main 09 contract has fallen below the combined - soda process cost of 1,200 yuan/ton. Technically, it shows a short - position arrangement of moving averages. Maintain a bearish view, dynamically track the pressure level of the 20 - day moving average, with a reference range of 1,050 - 1,250 [4] Arbitrage Strategy - Currently, the 9 - 1 spread of soda ash is near 0, almost at par. Considering the seasonal maintenance in summer and the planned new natural soda ash capacity at the end of the year, participate in the 9 - 1 positive spread. In terms of inter - commodity spreads, the FG - SA09 contract spread is about - 200, and the long - glass short - soda ash spread can still be held in the short term, and stop profit when the spread narrows to - 150 [4] Hedging Strategy - Currently, the inventory of soda ash plants is at an absolute high level. Upstream enterprises can pay attention to the short - hedging opportunities of the 09 contract when the futures price is at a premium or at par with the spot price, around 1,200 - 1,250. Downstream glass enterprises can conduct long - hedging when the futures price is lower than the spot delivery cost [4]
纯碱：成本下移驱动难寻，延续探底
Zhong Hui Qi Huo·2025-05-30 14:27