Economic Overview - The domestic economy showed a good start in the first half of 2025, with GDP reaching 318,758 billion yuan in Q1, a year-on-year growth of 5.4% and a quarter-on-quarter increase of 1.2% [1] - The per capita disposable income for residents in Q1 2025 was 12,179 yuan, reflecting a nominal growth of 5.5% year-on-year and a real growth of 5.6% after adjusting for price factors [1] Consumer Demand and Banking Trends - National consumer demand has declined, with an increase in bank deposits and a sluggish real estate market, indicating that the recovery of the real economy will take time [3] - Bank deposit rates have been on a rapid decline since 2024, with the one-year rate dropping from 2.25% to 1.55%, resulting in a decrease of 700 yuan in interest income for a 100,000 yuan deposit [6] - The decline in deposit rates is driven by an increase in deposit amounts, banks' desire to encourage investment and consumption, and the aim to lower financing costs for enterprises and homebuyers [6] Real Estate Market Trends - The national housing market is in a long-term downward trend, with new residential prices in 300 cities dropping by 3.2% and second-hand residential prices by 5.1% year-on-year in 2024, marking the third consecutive year of decline [8] - The decline in housing prices is attributed to reduced income and employment among residents, leading to a return to housing's fundamental value linked to local income levels [8] - The sales data from the first half of the year indicates a significant shrinkage in homebuying demand [8] Shift in Housing Sales - There is a trend towards the gradual replacement of pre-sale homes with existing homes, as major developers face issues like project delays and debt defaults, which have eroded buyer confidence [11] - The government plans to increase the proportion of existing home sales, allowing buyers to inspect properties before making a purchase decision [11] Technological Advancements - The era of intelligent robotics is emerging, with robots increasingly integrated into daily life, such as in restaurants and banks, and the introduction of autonomous delivery vehicles [14] - More companies are replacing customer service roles with intelligent robots, and manufacturing firms are adopting industrial robots to enhance efficiency [14] Consumer Behavior Changes - Post-pandemic, there has been a rebound in consumer demand, particularly in low-end sectors like tourism and dining, while prices for mid to high-end goods are expected to decline [15] - In the automotive sector, mid-range cars have seen price reductions of 15,000 to 20,000 yuan, with some high-end imported vehicles dropping by up to 100,000 yuan [15]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported an adjusted EBITDA of $40 million, reflecting a 3.2% decrease in pesos, translating to $36 per ton [9][20] - Net profit attributable to owners of the company totaled ARS 21.5 billion, down from ARS 79 billion in the first quarter of 2024, primarily due to lower financial results [23] - The net debt increased sequentially to ARS 187 million, with a debt to EBITDA ratio of 0.96x, slightly up from 0.89x at the end of 2024 [24][25] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Cement segment experienced a 10.9% revenue drop despite an 8.9% year-over-year increase in volumes, attributed to a softer pricing environment [14] - Concrete revenues declined by 1.4% despite a 22.8% increase in volumes, impacted by competitive pricing pressures [14] - The Aggregates segment saw a 14.2% revenue decline despite a 29% increase in sales volumes, affected by pricing dynamics and a lower average price due to the sales mix [15][22] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cement consumption showed signs of improvement, with April figures indicating a 28% year-over-year increase and a 14% sequential increase [12][8] - The Argentine economy is projected to grow approximately 5% in 2025, following a 1.7% contraction in 2024, which is expected to benefit the construction sector [11][7] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company remains focused on driving efficiency and controlling costs to protect profitability while delivering quality products and services [29] - The management expressed optimism about the recovery of the industry, indicating that the stabilization plans and easing of capital controls could unlock investment projects [28] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that the industry is in the early stages of recovery, with expectations for a more sustained recovery in the coming quarters [27][28] - The company is optimistic about the potential for increased cement demand driven by infrastructure projects and a recovering housing market [48] Other Important Information - The company invested ARS 11.1 billion in capital expenditures during the quarter, primarily for the final stage of the 25-kilogram bag projects [24] - SG&A expenses decreased by 7.8%, mainly due to lower marketing and IT expenditures [19] Q&A Session Summary Question: Competitive dynamics and market share - Management indicated that market share dynamics are consistent with their strategy, and climate issues impacted different regions [32] Question: Pricing power and cement volume expectations - Management expects pricing to remain around $115 per ton and maintains expectations for double-digit growth in cement volumes for 2025 [40][42] Question: Volume outlook and project demand - Management noted positive forecasts for cement demand, with many tenders moving forward for projects expected to start in the second semester [48]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Argentine economy is projected to grow approximately 5% in 2025, following a contraction of 1.7% in 2024, which positively impacts the construction sector [6][11] - The company reported an adjusted EBITDA of $40 million, reflecting a 3.2% decrease in pesos, translating to $36 per ton [8][19] - Net profit attributable to owners of the company totaled ARS 21.5 billion, down from ARS 79 billion in Q1 2024, primarily due to lower financial results [22] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - The Cement segment experienced a 10.9% revenue drop despite an 8.9% year-over-year increase in volumes, attributed to a softer pricing environment [14] - Concrete revenues declined by 1.4%, with a 22.8% increase in volumes offset by price pressures [14] - The Aggregates segment saw a 14.2% revenue decline despite a 29% increase in sales volumes, impacted by a weak market activity [15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cement consumption showed a year-over-year increase of 28% in April, indicating a recovery trend [7][12] - The company’s gross profit declined by 4.7%, but gross margin expanded by 116 basis points to 26.4% [17] - The railroad segment reported a 19.9% increase in transported volumes, although pricing pressures remained due to a higher share of lower-revenue grain transport [16][21] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company aims to drive efficiency and control costs while safeguarding profitability and delivering quality products [28] - The management is optimistic about the recovery of the construction sector, expecting a more sustained recovery in the coming quarters [26] - Changes in exchange rate policy and easing of capital controls are seen as pivotal for unlocking investment projects [27] Management Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism about the early stages of recovery in the construction sector, despite challenges from adverse weather conditions [6][12] - The company remains focused on maintaining a strong balance sheet and is committed to protecting profitability [8][28] - The outlook for cement demand is positive, with expectations of double-digit growth in 2025 [43] Other Important Information - The company ended the quarter with net debt of ARS 187 billion and a debt to EBITDA ratio of 0.96x, slightly up from 0.89x at the end of 2024 [23][24] - Cash flow used in operating activities improved significantly, totaling ARS 1.3 billion compared to ARS 12 million in Q1 2024 [23] Q&A Session Summary Question: Competitive dynamics and market share - Management indicated that market share dynamics are in line with their strategy, and weather conditions impacted regional performance [31][33] Question: Pricing power and cement volume outlook - Management expects pricing to remain around $115 per ton, with a positive outlook for volume growth, anticipating double-digit growth in 2025 [38][43] Question: Volume outlook related to construction projects - Management noted positive forecasts for cement demand, with several tenders moving forward, particularly in renewable energy and public works [47][51]

Core Viewpoint - The article suggests that the core factor supporting the current bull market in A-shares is the confidence of investors in the national economy and its recovery [3]. Economic Data Summary - As of March 17, A-share market capitalization reached 99.25 trillion, marking a historical high, with the Shanghai Composite Index also hitting a new year-to-date high [2]. - Economic indicators show that the economy is still in a recovery phase, with CPI down 0.1% and PPI down 2.2% year-on-year for January-February [4]. - Social financing (社融) for the first two months of 2025 totaled 9.29 trillion, an increase of 1.32 trillion year-on-year, the second-highest for the same period historically [4]. Financing Breakdown - Government bonds saw a net financing increase of 1.49 trillion year-on-year in January-February, serving as the core support for social financing growth [5]. - Corporate bonds had a net financing of 615.6 billion, an increase of 41.4 billion year-on-year, indicating a relatively smooth direct financing channel [6]. - On the household side, short-term loans decreased by 212.7 billion year-on-year, while medium to long-term loans also showed a decline, reflecting weak housing demand [7]. Monetary Supply Insights - M1 (narrow money) growth rate was 0.1% year-on-year, with a month-on-month decrease of 0.3 percentage points, indicating a slowdown in corporate demand deposits [8]. - M2 (broad money) growth rate remained stable at 7.0% year-on-year, suggesting stable total money supply but insufficient transmission efficiency [8]. - The "scissors difference" (M1-M2) was -6.9%, indicating that funds are being deposited in long-term accounts, putting pressure on economic activity [9]. Technological and Cultural Achievements - Chinese companies have made significant breakthroughs in technology, with examples like Yush Robot leading globally and Deepseek breaking the U.S. monopoly on large models [10]. - In the cultural sector, the film "Nezha 2" has grossed over 15 billion globally, ranking fifth in global box office history, with potential to rise to fourth [10]. - By the end of 2024, Pop Mart's global revenue share is expected to reach 30%, showcasing the international expansion of Chinese culture [10]. Market Sentiment - Despite various negative factors, A-shares have remained resilient, stabilizing above 3,400 points, indicating a strong market sentiment [11]. - The current economic phase is characterized as a transition between old and new growth drivers, with ongoing data recovery [11].