Soochow Securities·2025-12-29 06:27Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Overweight" rating for the gas industry [1] Core Insights - The report highlights an upward adjustment in temperature expectations leading to a decrease in US gas prices, while European gas prices show a slight increase due to inventory withdrawals [1][4] - Domestic gas demand shows marginal improvement, with a year-on-year increase of 9.3% in November 2025 [1][25] Price Tracking - As of December 26, 2025, the week-on-week changes in gas prices are as follows: US HH down by 8.2%, European TTF up by 0.9%, East Asia JKM up by 0.5%, China LNG ex-factory down by 2.9%, and China LNG CIF up by 0.7% [9][14] - The average gas price in China is reported at 2.6 yuan per cubic meter for LNG ex-factory and 2.4 yuan per cubic meter for LNG CIF [14] Supply and Demand Analysis - US natural gas market prices decreased by 8.2% due to higher temperature expectations, with storage levels dropping by 1.2% year-on-year [16] - European gas consumption from January to September 2025 reached 313.8 billion cubic meters, a year-on-year increase of 4.1% [18] - Domestic gas consumption in China for January to November 2025 increased by 1.5% year-on-year, totaling 392 billion cubic meters [25][28] Pricing Mechanism Progress - Nationwide price adjustments for residential gas have been gradually implemented, with 67% of cities adjusting prices by an average of 0.22 yuan per cubic meter [37] - The report indicates that there is still a 10% room for price adjustment in the gas distribution sector [37] Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on companies that can optimize costs and benefit from the ongoing price mechanism adjustments, recommending companies such as Xin'ao Energy, China Resources Gas, and Kunlun Energy [53][54] - It also highlights the importance of companies with quality long-term contracts and flexible scheduling, recommending Jiufeng Energy and Xin'ao Shares [54] - The report emphasizes the significance of energy independence, suggesting attention to companies with gas production capabilities like New Natural Gas and Blue Flame Holdings [54]