Minsheng Securities·2025-07-27 06:26Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" recommendation for several companies in the steel sector, including Hualing Steel, Baosteel, Nanjing Steel, and others, indicating a positive outlook for their performance [3]. Core Insights - The demand for special steel is expected to rise due to the commencement of the Yajiang Hydropower Station project, with an estimated special steel demand of approximately 4-6 million tons, significantly exceeding similar hydropower projects [3][7]. - Steel prices have increased, with notable weekly price rises across various steel products, indicating a strengthening market [1][10]. - The profitability of steel manufacturers is recovering, with significant increases in gross margins for rebar, hot-rolled, and cold-rolled steel [1][2]. Price Trends - As of July 25, 2025, the price of 20mm HRB400 rebar in Shanghai is 3,450 CNY/ton, up 180 CNY/ton from the previous week, while hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel prices also saw increases of 170 CNY/ton [1][10]. - The report highlights a 5.5% weekly increase in rebar prices and a 4.6% increase in cold-rolled prices, reflecting a positive price trend in the steel market [11]. Production and Inventory - The total production of the five major steel products decreased to 8.67 million tons, with a slight weekly decline of 1.22 million tons, while total inventory also saw a decrease [2]. - Rebar production increased by 2.9 million tons to 2.1196 million tons, indicating a positive trend in production for this specific category [2]. Profitability Analysis - The report indicates that the gross profit margins for rebar, hot-rolled, and cold-rolled steel have increased by 46 CNY/ton, 45 CNY/ton, and 79 CNY/ton respectively, showcasing a recovery in profitability for steel manufacturers [1][2]. Investment Recommendations - The report recommends several companies for investment, including Hualing Steel, Baosteel, Nanjing Steel in the general steel sector, and Xianglou New Materials, CITIC Special Steel in the special steel sector, among others [3].