Group 1: Beef Industry - The beef cycle in China is undergoing significant changes, with a long-term trend of price increases due to lower production capacity compared to consumption growth. The high profitability cycle in beef farming is leading to aggressive expansion downstream, but this has resulted in substantial losses since July 2023. The industry is characterized by low concentration and severe information asymmetry, similar to the pig farming industry before the African swine fever outbreak. Once capacity is effectively cleared, supply-demand mismatches and price elasticity may exceed expectations [3][57]. - China's beef production capacity is not proportional to its beef output, with a significant gap between live cattle production and beef yield. In 2024, China is projected to produce 520 million live cattle but only 779 million tons of beef, indicating inefficiencies in production practices [19][24]. - The beef import dependency in China has increased significantly, with imports rising from 601,000 tons in 2016 to 2,915,000 tons in 2024, reflecting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.8%. This has amplified the impact of imports on domestic beef pricing [24][25]. Group 2: Swine Industry - The swine industry is expected to experience a short-term decline in prices due to an oversupply of pigs, with the national breeding sow inventory remaining stable but limited growth. The Ministry of Agriculture has mandated a halt to the expansion of breeding sows, which will impact supply dynamics in the second half of 2025 [87][89]. - The supply of piglets is expected to increase, leading to higher market pressures in the second half of 2025. However, potential outbreaks of diseases in the autumn and winter could lead to a temporary decrease in supply, which may cause prices to rise in 2026 [89][92]. - The average asset-liability ratio of listed pig farming companies has improved from 73.9% to 61.6% between Q2 2023 and Q1 2025, indicating a recovery in financial health among leading firms in the industry [99]. Group 3: Animal Health Industry - The animal health sector is expected to benefit from improvements in efficiency and cost management, despite an oversupply in the breeding industry. The demand for veterinary drugs is anticipated to rise as pig prices recover, which will positively impact upstream animal health companies [84][90]. - The industry is transitioning from a focus on scale to an emphasis on quality, with the development of vaccines against diseases like African swine fever becoming a critical catalyst for growth in the animal health sector [90][92]. Group 4: New Consumption Trends - The pet consumption market in China is steadily growing, with the overall market size expected to reach 300.2 billion yuan in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 7.5%. The pet cat market is particularly strong, with a growth rate of 10.7% [59][62]. - Domestic brands are gaining popularity among pet owners, with a significant increase in preference for local products over foreign brands. This trend is driven by cost advantages and effective marketing strategies during major shopping events [72][79]. - The demand for pets as companions is rising due to demographic changes, including an aging population and declining marriage rates, which is expected to further boost the pet industry [67][68].

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Outperform" rating for the agricultural sector [5] Core Insights - The USDA's May supply and demand report indicates a tightening of global supply for corn, soybeans, and wheat, while beef prices in the U.S. are expected to rise due to reduced supply [5][6] - The report highlights potential investment opportunities in the agricultural sector, particularly in corn and soybean markets, as prices are expected to stabilize and recover from historical lows [5][6] Summary by Relevant Sections Corn - The USDA forecasts a global corn production increase of 43.7 million tons (approximately +3.45%) to 1.26498 billion tons for the 25/26 season, with total usage rising by 24.4 million tons (approximately +1.91%) [16][17] - China's corn production is expected to increase by 80,000 tons (approximately +0.03%) to 295 million tons, with total usage up by 5 million tons (approximately +1.56%) [17] - Domestic corn prices are at historical lows, with strong support expected for price recovery [19] Soybeans - Global soybean production is projected to increase by 5.95 million tons (approximately +1.39%) to 426.82 million tons for the 25/26 season, with total usage up by 13.76 million tons (approximately +3.24%) [31][32] - The report anticipates that soybean prices will remain under pressure in the first half of 2025 due to high supply levels, but long-term trends are expected to improve [34][35] Wheat - Global wheat production is expected to rise by 8.81 million tons (approximately +1.10%) to 80.852 million tons for the 25/26 season, with total usage increasing by 4.38 million tons (approximately +0.55%) [43][44] - The overall supply of wheat remains ample, and prices are expected to stabilize at lower levels [43] Beef - The USDA predicts a significant reduction in U.S. beef supply for 2026, with prices expected to rise by 15.2% in Q2 2025 and 14.1% in Q3 2025 [5][7] - The domestic beef market is expected to see a price increase despite seasonal trends, indicating a potential upward cycle for beef prices [5][7] Pork - U.S. pork production is expected to increase by 1.33% in 2026, with consumption growth slightly outpacing supply [7][8] - Domestic pork prices are projected to decline, but low-cost producers are expected to maintain profitability [7] Poultry - U.S. poultry supply is expected to recover in 2026, with domestic demand in China anticipated to improve [7][8] - The report notes that high pathogenic avian influenza impacts are diminishing, which may support recovery in poultry production [7] Eggs - U.S. egg production is projected to increase by 6% in 2026, with domestic supply expected to remain ample throughout the year [8][9] - The report indicates that egg prices may face downward pressure due to high supply levels [8][9]