GOLDEN SUN SECURITIES·2026-01-18 06:44Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for several steel companies, including Xining Special Steel, Nanjing Steel, Hualing Steel, and Baosteel [9]. Core Insights - The steel market is experiencing a recovery in valuation, with absolute valuations moving from undervalued to moderately low levels, indicating potential for absolute returns [2]. - The report emphasizes the importance of structural reforms in the capital market, which are expected to facilitate a shift towards value investing in the steel industry [2]. - The report highlights that the demand for steel is improving, with significant increases in apparent consumption, particularly for rebar [6][41]. Supply Analysis - Daily molten iron production has decreased by 16,000 tons to 2.28 million tons, while steel production has slightly increased [15]. - The capacity utilization rate of 247 steel mills is at 85.5%, down 0.6 percentage points week-on-week but up 1.2 percentage points year-on-year [21]. Inventory Analysis - Total steel inventory has shifted from an increase to a decrease, with a week-on-week decline of 0.6% [27]. - The social inventory of five major steel products is 8.663 million tons, up 0.1% week-on-week and up 8.7% year-on-year [29]. Demand Analysis - Apparent consumption of five major steel products has improved significantly, with a week-on-week increase of 3.7% [51]. - Rebar apparent consumption reached 1.903 million tons, up 8.8% week-on-week and 2.8% year-on-year [51]. Raw Material Analysis - Iron ore prices have weakened, with a decrease in the shipping volume from Australia and Brazil, while port inventories have increased [50]. - The price index for imported iron ore is reported at 106.2 USD/ton, down 2.2% week-on-week [59]. Price and Profit Analysis - Steel prices are stable with slight increases, and the gross profit margins for steel products are improving [69]. - The comprehensive steel price index is at 122.7, reflecting a week-on-week increase of 0.2% [70].