GOLDEN SUN SECURITIES·2026-01-25 08:18Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the steel sector, indicating a positive outlook for selected companies within the industry [4][11]. Core Insights - The steel industry is experiencing a slight increase in daily molten iron production, with an average of 228.2 thousand tons, reflecting a 0.2 thousand ton increase [14]. - Total steel inventory has shifted from a decrease to an increase, with a week-on-week rise of 0.8%, indicating a change in market dynamics [26]. - Apparent steel consumption has weakened on a week-on-week basis, with a notable decline in rebar demand, which decreased by 15.3% [40]. - The report highlights a decrease in steel prices and immediate profit margins, suggesting a challenging pricing environment for steel products [71]. Summary by Sections Supply - Daily molten iron production has slightly increased, with long-process production rising [14]. - The capacity utilization rate of 247 steel mills is at 85.5%, showing a 0.1 percentage point increase [20]. Inventory - Total steel inventory has increased, with social inventory at 8.685 million tons, up 0.2% week-on-week [28]. - Steel mill inventory has also risen significantly, indicating a potential oversupply situation [26]. Demand - Apparent consumption of five major steel products has decreased by 2.0% week-on-week, with rebar consumption down by 2.5% [50]. - The average weekly transaction volume for construction steel has dropped to 78 thousand tons [42]. Raw Materials - Iron ore prices have weakened, with a decrease in shipments from Australia and Brazil, leading to a rise in port inventories [49]. - The report notes that the current "anti-involution" policy may influence future production rhythms and pricing [49]. Prices and Profits - The comprehensive steel price index has decreased by 0.7% week-on-week, with specific prices for rebar and hot-rolled sheets also declining [71]. - Immediate profit margins for long-process steel products have decreased, indicating pressure on profitability [71]. Key Companies - The report recommends several companies for investment, including Hualing Steel, Nanjing Steel, and Baosteel, highlighting their potential benefits from the current market conditions [7].