ZHESHANG SECURITIES·2026-01-23 00:20Investment Rating - The industry rating is "Positive" (maintained) [6] Core Insights - The industry is at a valuation and profit bottom, with pulp prices expected to rise due to the US dollar interest rate cut cycle [1][12] - The supply of commodity pulp is tightening, with limited new overseas capacity expected after 2025, while domestic self-sufficient pulp production is increasing [2][19] - Short-term demand remains resilient, driven by Chinese demand, but structural impacts from self-sufficient pulp projects may suppress commodity pulp demand in the medium term [2][25] - Current inventory levels are relatively low, supporting strong price expectations for Q1 2026 [3][41] - Cost differences in pulp production are significant, with domestic pulp relying heavily on imported wood chips [3][33] Summary by Sections Section 1: Market Cycle and Price Dynamics - The pulp and paper cycle is at a bottom, with historical price performance indicating a potential rebound [1][11] - As of January 16, paper prices are at historical low percentiles, while pulp prices are also low, providing a safety margin for the industry [1][11] - The US dollar's depreciation is expected to stimulate demand and drive pulp prices upward [12] Section 2: Supply and Demand Analysis - Commodity pulp supply is slowing, with global capacity at approximately 36.14 million tons as of 2024, and utilization rates around 90% [2][19] - Domestic self-sufficient pulp production is projected to add about 6.6 million tons in 2025-2026, primarily from vertical integration projects [24] - Global demand for hardwood pulp is expected to remain resilient, with a year-on-year increase of 7% in shipments driven by China [25][26] Section 3: Inventory Levels - Global hardwood pulp producer inventory days are at 44.7 days, indicating a relatively low stock level [3][37] - China's main port inventory has decreased to 1.906 million tons, reflecting strong demand and continuous inventory reduction [41] Section 4: Cost Structure - The cash cost of domestic pulp production varies significantly based on the source of wood chips, with costs around $480 per ton for imported wood and $420 per ton for domestic wood [3][33] - The cost structure is influenced by the production of self-sufficient pulp, which may lead to increased domestic wood chip prices [44] Section 5: Investment Recommendations - Recommended companies include Sun Paper, Nine Dragons Paper, Xianhe Paper, and Bohui Paper, which have strong cost control and high self-sufficient pulp ratios [4][56][57][58]