Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is maintained at "Buy" with a target price of HKD 11.08 [1][4]. Core Views - The company's revenue for the first half of 2025 (25H1) reached HKD 14 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4%, while the net profit attributable to shareholders was HKD 1.79 billion, up 72% year-on-year, driven by increased sales volume and lower raw material costs [1]. - The outlook for the glutamate market is expected to improve, and the company's overseas expansion is anticipated to contribute to incremental growth [1]. - The company has seen an increase in sales of amino acids and glutamate, with a decrease in raw material costs aiding in the improvement of gross margins [2][3]. Summary by Sections Financial Performance - In 25H1, the food additives segment revenue decreased by 6% to HKD 6.47 billion, primarily due to falling glutamate prices, while the animal nutrition segment revenue increased by 29% to HKD 5.41 billion, driven by higher lysine sales [2]. - The gross margin for the food additives segment improved by 4.8 percentage points to 15.8%, attributed to lower raw material costs [2]. Market Outlook - The market prices for lysine and glutamate are expected to recover as demand increases, particularly with the approach of peak consumption seasons [3]. - The company has fully launched projects for 400,000 tons of glutamate, 20,000 tons of threonine, and 100,000 tons of lysine, with an overseas production base in Kazakhstan under construction [3]. Profit Forecast and Valuation - The profit forecast for the company remains at HKD 2.8 billion, HKD 3.0 billion, and HKD 3.3 billion for the years 2025 to 2027, respectively, with corresponding EPS estimates of HKD 1.12, HKD 1.20, and HKD 1.31 [4][8]. - The target price of HKD 11.08 corresponds to a 9x PE ratio for 2025, reflecting the company's valuation in light of market liquidity [4].
阜丰集团（00546）：25H1净利增加，味精景气有望改善