KAIYUAN SECURITIES·2025-08-12 08:13Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Positive" (maintained) [1] Core Viewpoints - The demand for viscose staple fiber is expected to continue growing due to rapid development in vortex spinning technology, with apparent consumption projected at 3.81 million tons in 2023 and 4.09 million tons in 2024, reflecting year-on-year growth of 9.74% and 7.28% respectively [5] - The viscose staple fiber industry has maintained a tight supply-demand balance, with capacity utilization rates above 80% and limited new capacity additions since 2022 [6] - The price of viscose staple fiber has shown resilience despite a decline in raw material prices, with recent price increases of approximately 150 CNY per ton [6] Summary by Sections Industry Overview - The viscose staple fiber industry is characterized by a high concentration, with the top three companies holding a combined market share of 69.77% [6] - The industry has seen limited new capacity additions, with only one planned project expected to come online in 2026 [6] Demand and Supply Dynamics - The apparent consumption of viscose staple fiber in the first half of 2025 is projected at 1.96 million tons, with a minor year-on-year decline of 1.00%, indicating strong demand resilience [5] - The industry has experienced a high operating rate of 85.9% as of August 2025, with inventory levels at a historical low of 10.9 days [6] Price Trends - The price gap between viscose staple fiber and its raw materials has been expanding, with viscose prices remaining firm despite fluctuations in raw material costs [6][9] - The recent suspension of tariffs between the US and China is expected to boost demand for viscose staple fiber in the upcoming peak seasons [6] Recommended Stocks - Recommended stock: Sanyou Chemical; Beneficiary stock: Zhongtai Chemical [7]