Xinda Securities·2025-09-11 07:17Investment Rating - The report suggests a cautious approach towards the soda ash industry, highlighting significant cost advantages for companies with natural soda ash production capabilities, such as Boyuan Chemical and Zhongyan Chemical [7][11]. Core Insights - The soda ash industry is experiencing a downward price trend, with significant impacts on profitability and operational performance of listed companies. The report emphasizes the need for industry optimization and potential recovery through demand stimulation and policy support [7][11]. - The supply side is undergoing structural changes, with natural soda ash production increasing its share significantly, which is expected to dominate future capacity expansions [4][12]. - Demand pressures are evident from the real estate sector's decline and short-term fluctuations in the photovoltaic glass market, although long-term growth potential remains [5][13]. Summary by Sections Price Trends - Soda ash prices have been on a continuous decline for seven consecutive quarters, with heavy losses reported across the industry. The price of heavy soda ash peaked at 3681 CNY/ton in October 2021 and fell to a range of 1335-1349 CNY/ton by August 2025 [3][21][22]. Supply Side - The production capacity of soda ash has accelerated, surpassing 40 million tons in 2023, with a year-on-year increase of 19.5%. By 2024, capacity is expected to reach 43.45 million tons, with natural soda ash accounting for a growing share of total production [4][36][64]. - The share of natural soda ash in total production capacity increased from 5% in 2022 to 19% in 2025, driven by new projects from companies like Boyuan Chemical [4][12][50]. Demand Side - The demand for soda ash is primarily driven by the glass industry, with flat glass accounting for 46% of total consumption in 2024. The photovoltaic glass sector is also growing, contributing to a significant portion of soda ash demand [15][66]. - The real estate sector's downturn has negatively impacted flat glass demand, while the automotive sector has provided some support. The photovoltaic glass market is facing short-term challenges but is expected to recover in the long term [5][13][66]. Cost Structure - The cost structure of soda ash production varies significantly by production method, with natural soda ash having the lowest unit cost at approximately 1000-1200 CNY/ton, compared to 1400-1600 CNY/ton for the synthetic methods [6][35]. Industry Outlook - The report outlines a potential path for the industry to counteract the current downward trends through supply optimization, demand recovery, and policy guidance aimed at promoting energy efficiency and the development of green production methods [7][11].