走出低通胀（四）：供给侧改革为什么能够成功？

Group 1: Supply-Side Reform Background - The supply-side reform aims to address excessive capacity in the midstream and upstream sectors after a decade of expansion in export manufacturing and significant infrastructure investment[1] - In 2015, the capacity utilization rate of industrial enterprises in China fell to 74%, below the international standard of 75% for severe overcapacity[8] - By 2015, 13 out of 14 major industrial sectors were experiencing severe overcapacity, particularly in heavy industries like steel and coal[9] Group 2: Causes of Overcapacity - Overcapacity was primarily driven by excessive external and internal demand expansion, leading to abnormal capacity growth[2] - Local governments, incentivized by GDP growth targets, contributed to overcapacity by supporting state-owned enterprises in upstream investments[2] - The overcapacity issue was exacerbated by repeated construction of heavy industrial projects, driven by local government interests in boosting GDP and tax revenues[10] Group 3: Economic Impact - From 2012 to 2015, domestic industrial prices plummeted, with the Producer Price Index (PPI) recording negative values for three consecutive years[10] - By 2015, the total debt in six overcapacity industries reached 10 trillion yuan, with 8.7 trillion yuan classified as debt[15] - The banking sector faced rising non-performing loan rates, with the total non-performing loan balance reaching 1.2744 trillion yuan by the end of 2015, a 51.2% increase from the previous year[65] Group 4: Capacity Reduction Strategies - The reform included three main strategies: administrative capacity reduction, industry self-discipline with staggered production, and market-driven natural clearance[17][18][79] - Administrative measures focused on controlling new capacity, eliminating outdated capacity, and encouraging enterprise restructuring, particularly in state-dominated sectors like steel and coal[17] - The steel industry saw a reduction of 120 million tons of crude steel capacity from 2016 to 2017, achieving 80% of its capacity reduction target[28] Group 5: Outcomes of Supply-Side Reform - The steel industry's capacity utilization improved significantly, with the industry concentration rising to 60% by 2020[29] - The coal industry eliminated 810 million tons of capacity between 2016 and 2018, exceeding the targets set for the 13th Five-Year Plan[30] - The cement industry's profits increased from 33 billion yuan in 2015 to 154.6 billion yuan in 2018, reflecting improved pricing and profitability[33]