Huaxin Securities·2025-07-29 15:17Investment Rating - The report initiates coverage of the coal industry with a "Recommended" investment rating, highlighting potential investment opportunities in companies such as China Shenhua, Shaanxi Coal, Yanzhou Coal, Shanxi Coal International, and Datong Energy [7]. Core Insights - The coal industry is expected to undergo a new round of value reassessment due to an expanding supply-demand gap, which is likely to push coal prices upward [7][6]. - Domestic coal production growth is slowing, with significant contributions from Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia, while Shanxi faces production declines due to regulatory constraints [3][4]. - The demand for coal remains relatively rigid, primarily driven by the power sector, which accounts for 55% of total coal consumption, alongside strong growth in chemical industry demand [4][6]. Supply Side Summary - Domestic raw coal production is projected to reach 4.76 billion tons in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 1.3%, significantly lower than the five-year compound growth rate of 4.36% [3]. - Xinjiang and Inner Mongolia are the main contributors to production increases, with expected increments of 8.1 million tons and 6.6 million tons respectively in 2024 [3][32]. - Shanxi's coal production is expected to decline by 6.9% in 2024 due to regulatory measures aimed at controlling overproduction [3][43]. Demand Side Summary - Total coal consumption in China is forecasted to reach 4.84 billion tons in 2024, up 1.7% year-on-year, with the power sector's coal usage increasing by 2.64% to 2.65 billion tons [4][6]. - The chemical sector shows robust growth in coal demand, with a year-on-year increase of 13.86%, while the construction materials sector is expected to see a decline of 5.05% [4][6]. - Coal exports are anticipated to rise significantly, with a projected increase of 49.1% year-on-year, reaching 6.66 million tons in 2024 [4]. Supply-Demand Outlook - The supply-demand gap is expected to widen over the next few years, with projected deficits of 0.63 million tons in 2025, 1.50 million tons in 2026, and 2.29 million tons in 2027 [6]. - Coal prices are likely to rise as domestic production growth is constrained by regulatory measures and the dual carbon goals of peak carbon emissions and carbon neutrality [6][7]. Company Focus and Profit Forecast - The report provides earnings per share (EPS) and price-to-earnings (PE) ratios for several companies, with China Shenhua rated as "Buy" and others currently un-rated [9].