Report Summary 1. Report Industry Investment Rating No information provided in the content. 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - OPEC+ plans to increase oil production by 548,000 barrels per day this month, and there are expectations for another 548,000 barrels per day increase in September, which may lead to an oversupply and downward pressure on oil prices. The US tariff agreements may improve market risk appetite, but the potential secondary tariffs on countries buying Russian oil could cause price fluctuations [4]. - PX is in a tight - balance situation with low inventory and high operating rates. With only one potential new device planned at the end of 2025 and high uncertainty, PXN has support due to new PTA device demand [4]. - A 3.2 - million - ton PTA device in East China has one line put into production, and multiple devices are under maintenance. The short - term polyester load is strong, but in the long run, there is an oversupply, and prices are expected to fluctuate with the cost [4]. - Rising coal prices support the cost of ethylene glycol. Port inventory is decreasing, and the supply - demand is tight. However, there is an expected increase in imports in August, and short - term prices are expected to be strong [4]. - The average weekly capacity utilization rate of the Chinese polyester industry is 85.82%, down 0.60% week - on - week. Downstream demand is weak, and the industry is in an oversupply situation. The demand for textile raw materials is expected to recover in mid - to late August [26]. 3. Summary by Related Catalogs Crude Oil - OPEC+ is set to increase production by 548,000 barrels per day this month, and there are expectations for the same increase in September, which may lead to oversupply and downward price pressure. The US tariff agreements may improve market risk appetite, but the claim of secondary tariffs on countries buying Russian oil could cause price fluctuations [4]. PX - Current PX inventory is low, and the operating rate is high, maintaining a tight - balance situation. In 2025, only one 3 - million - ton device of Yulong Petrochemical is expected to be put into operation at the end of the year, with a capacity growth rate of about 5%. The domestic PX output in the first half of 2025 was 18.3 billion tons, a year - on - year increase of 2.7%. The annual supply in 2025 is expected to be about 47.8 billion tons, with a growth rate of about 3%. The domestic weekly average PX capacity utilization rate is 82.35%, down 0.56% week - on - week, and the Asian weekly average is 71.98%, down 0.03% week - on - week. The PX - naphtha spread is around $265 per ton. The downstream PTA is still in an expansion cycle, and the supply - demand gap supports PX prices [4][8]. PTA - A 3.2 - million - ton PTA device in East China has one line put into production recently, and multiple devices are under concentrated maintenance. The downstream polyester is in the off - season, and the processing fee is 204 yuan per ton, remaining flat compared to last week and at a low point this year. With new device production, the oversupply situation will intensify, and the processing fee may be compressed. The weekly average PTA capacity utilization rate is 79.67%, down 1.09% week - on - week. The spot market price is 4,750 yuan per ton, and the mainstream spot basis is 09, - 13 [4][14]. MEG - The market price of ethylene glycol this week is 4,485 yuan per ton, down 2.05% week - on - week. The total domestic ethylene glycol capacity utilization rate is 60.67%, up 1.47% week - on - week, and the coal - based capacity utilization rate is 63.87%, up 3.88% week - on - week. The gross profit has risen to 103.33 yuan per ton, up 15.42 yuan per ton week - on - week. The inventory in East China ports is 427,200 tons, down 47,800 tons week - on - week, at a historical low. Due to the delay of imported goods caused by typhoons, imports are expected to increase. Affected by coal prices, the overall price is expected to be strong [19]. Polyester Industry - The average weekly capacity utilization rate of the Chinese polyester industry is 85.82%, down 0.60% week - on - week. Downstream demand is weak, and there is inventory accumulation due to high - level operation. The effectiveness of potential production cuts needs further observation. The demand for long - and short - fiber textile raw materials is expected to recover in mid - to late August [26].

Report Summary 1. Investment Rating No investment rating for the industry is provided in the report. 2. Core View The report indicates that asphalt prices are in a high - level oscillation, and investors should be vigilant about a potential rise in crude oil prices [1]. 3. Summary by Related Catalogs 3.1 Fundamental Tracking - **Futures Data**: For BU2508, the yesterday's closing price was 3,683 yuan/ton with a daily increase of 0.30%, and the overnight closing price was 3,669 yuan/ton with a decrease of 0.38%. The trading volume was 1,025 lots with a decrease of 546 lots, and the open interest was 1,533 lots with a decrease of 362 lots. For BU2509, the yesterday's closing price was 3,659 yuan/ton with a daily increase of 0.25%, and the overnight closing price was 3,654 yuan/ton with a decrease of 0.14%. The trading volume was 145,613 lots with a decrease of 45,926 lots, and the open interest was 125,992 lots with a decrease of 5,504 lots. The total market asphalt warehouse receipts were 81,140 lots with no change [1]. - **Spread Data**: The basis (Shandong - 08) was 102 yuan/ton, a decrease of 11 yuan compared to the previous day; the 08 - 09 inter - period spread was 24 yuan/ton, an increase of 2 yuan; the Shandong - South China spread was 185, a decrease of 20; the East China - South China spread was 180 yuan/ton, a decrease of 20 yuan/ton [1]. - **Spot Market Data**: The Shandong wholesale price was 3,785 yuan/ton with no change, and the factory - warehouse spot equivalent to the futures price was 3,915 yuan/ton, while the warehouse spot equivalent to the futures price was 4,058 yuan/ton. The Yangtze River Delta wholesale price was 3,780 yuan/ton with no change, and the factory - warehouse spot equivalent to the futures price was 3,841 yuan/ton, and the warehouse spot equivalent to the futures price was 3,905 yuan/ton. The refinery operating rate was 34.91%, a decrease of 1.00% compared to the previous period; the refinery inventory rate was 25.87%, a decrease of 0.35% [1]. 3.2 Market Information - **Capacity Utilization**: From July 24 - 30, 2025, the capacity utilization rate of 77 domestic heavy - traffic asphalt enterprises was 33.1%, a month - on - month increase of 4.3%. The reason was that although some refineries reduced production, some major refineries in Shandong and Jinling Petrochemical maintained stable production [13]. - **Maintenance Volume**: From July 24 - 30, 2025, the domestic asphalt plant maintenance volume was 60.4 tons, a decrease of 3.8 tons or 5.9% compared to the previous week. The reason was that some refineries in Xinjiang and Shandong resumed asphalt production [13]. - **Shipment Volume**: From July 23 - 29, 2025, the total shipment volume of 54 domestic asphalt enterprises was 41.9 tons, a month - on - month increase of 1.0%. In the Northeast region, refinery production decreased and high - price transactions slowed down, while in the East China region, shipments increased significantly after supply recovery [13]. 3.3 Trend Intensity The asphalt trend intensity is 0, indicating a neutral outlook. The trend intensity ranges from - 2 (most bearish) to 2 (most bullish) [8].

Report Summary 1. Report Industry Investment Rating No information provided. 2. Core Viewpoint The report focuses on the asphalt market, showing that asphalt prices are rising slowly following the strong performance of crude oil. It also analyzes the fundamentals, market trends, and recent industry news of asphalt [1]. 3. Summary by Related Catalogs 3.1 Fundamental Tracking - **Futures Market**: The closing prices of BU2508 and BU2509 increased, with daily increases of 0.77% and 0.86% respectively. The trading volume of BU2508 increased by 1,089 lots, while that of BU2509 decreased by 17,315 lots. The positions of both decreased [1]. - **Spot Market**: The wholesale prices in Shandong and the Yangtze River Delta increased and remained unchanged respectively. The refinery operating rate decreased by 1.29% to 31.95%, and the refinery inventory rate decreased by 0.79% to 25.10% [1]. - **Spread**: The basis (Shandong - 08) decreased by 18 yuan/ton, the 08 - 09 inter - period spread decreased by 3 yuan/ton, the Shandong - South China spread increased by 10, and the East China - South China spread remained unchanged [1]. 3.2 Trend Intensity The asphalt trend intensity is 1, indicating a relatively neutral to slightly positive outlook, with the intensity ranging from - 2 (most bearish) to 2 (most bullish) [10]. 3.3 Market News - **Capacity Utilization**: From July 24 - 30, 2025, the capacity utilization rate of 77 domestic heavy - traffic asphalt enterprises was 33.1%, a 4.3% increase from the previous period, mainly due to stable production in some major refineries in Shandong and Jinling Petrochemical [15]. - **Maintenance Volume**: From July 24 - 30, 2025, the domestic asphalt plant maintenance volume was 60.4 tons, a 5.9% decrease from the previous week, mainly due to the resumption of production in Xinjiang Meihuit and some Shandong refineries [15]. - **Shipment Volume**: From July 23 - 29, 2025, the total shipment volume of 54 domestic asphalt enterprises was 41.9 tons, a 1.0% increase from the previous period. Shipments in the Northeast weakened, while those in the East China increased significantly [15].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported record first quarter revenue of $634.7 million, an increase of 4% year-over-year, primarily driven by higher cement and wallboard sales volume, as well as contributions from recently acquired aggregates businesses [4][14] - Diluted net earnings per share decreased by 5% to $3.76, attributed to lower earnings in cement due to higher operating costs, partially offset by a 3% reduction in fully diluted shares from the share buyback program [4][14] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the heavy materials sector, revenue increased by 5%, driven by increased cement sales volume and a 21% increase in concrete and aggregates revenue. Aggregates sales volume surged by 117%, including contributions from recently acquired businesses, with organic aggregates sales volume up 29% [15] - The light materials sector saw a 1% increase in revenue, reflecting higher wallboard sales volume, but was partially offset by lower wallboard sales prices. Operating earnings in this sector decreased slightly due to lower net sales prices, despite lower input costs [16] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Aggregate volumes improved significantly year-over-year, aided by the integration of two recently acquired quarries and organic growth [8] - Cement volumes also improved year-over-year, marking the first quarter since December 2023 with an increase in cement sales volumes, despite weather disruptions in several markets [9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company continues to focus on operational improvement and sustainability initiatives, aiming to enhance its competitive advantage as a low-cost producer [5][6] - Strategic investments are being made in modernization and expansion projects, including the Laramie, Wyoming cement plant and the Duke, Oklahoma wallboard facility, with a total capital spending expectation of $475 million to $525 million for fiscal 2026 [12][17] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding demand trends, noting stable order trends across major business lines despite macroeconomic uncertainties [8] - The company anticipates that high capacity utilization rates in the cement industry will lead to an improved pricing environment as cement sales volumes rebound [9][11] Other Important Information - The company generated operating cash flow of $137 million, reflecting improved working capital management, and repurchased 358,000 shares for $79 million during the first quarter [16][17] - The net debt to capitalization ratio remained at 46%, with a net debt to EBITDA leverage ratio of 1.6 times, indicating significant financial flexibility [18] Q&A Session Summary Question: Wallboard performance and demand drivers - Management noted that geographic positioning and trailing twelve-month volume analysis are key factors in outperforming the market, despite ongoing affordability issues in housing [20][21] Question: Cost expectations for wallboard - Natural gas prices have stabilized, and the company has sufficient natural gypsum reserves, indicating no immediate cost concerns [22][23] Question: Impact of ramp-up at new facilities - The ramp-up at the new facility has been a drag on earnings, but improvements are expected as operations stabilize [26][27] Question: Future wallboard margins - Margins are expected to have natural seasonality, but no one-time issues are anticipated moving forward [28][29] Question: Cement volume trends and regional dynamics - Cement volume trends have been consistent, driven by infrastructure spending, with no significant deviations noted across regions [34][36] Question: Outlook for wallboard volumes - Demand for wallboard is expected to remain under pressure due to housing affordability issues, but long-term prospects are viewed positively [41][42] Question: Cement pricing outlook - Management is optimistic about mid to long-term pricing potential as supply-demand dynamics tighten, although short-term price increases may be challenging [49][50]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported record first quarter revenue of $634.7 million, an increase of 4% year-over-year, primarily driven by higher cement and wallboard sales volume, as well as contributions from recently acquired aggregates businesses [4][15] - Diluted net earnings per share decreased by 5% to $3.76, mainly due to lower earnings in cement from higher operating costs, partially offset by a 3% reduction in fully diluted shares due to the share buyback program [15] - Operating cash flow increased by 3% to $137 million, reflecting improved working capital management [17] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the heavy materials sector, revenue increased by 5%, driven by increased cement sales volume and a 21% increase in concrete and aggregates revenue [16] - Aggregates sales volume surged by 117%, including contributions from recently acquired businesses, with organic aggregates sales volume up by 29% [16] - The light materials sector saw a 1% increase in revenue, reflecting higher wallboard sales volume, but was partially offset by lower wallboard sales prices [17] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Cement volumes improved year-over-year, marking the first quarter since December 2023 with a year-over-year increase in cement sales volumes, despite major weather disruptions [9] - Aggregate volumes improved significantly, aided by the integration of two recently acquired quarries [8] - Wallboard volumes remain subdued due to ongoing affordability challenges in the housing market, with structural constraints on adding supply in cement and wallboard [11][12] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company continues to focus on operational improvement and sustainability initiatives, aiming to enhance its competitive advantage as a low-cost producer [5][6] - Strategic investments are being made in modernization and expansion projects, including the Laramie, Wyoming cement plant and the Duke, Oklahoma wallboard facility [13] - The company plans to continue investing in strategic projects and opportunistic share repurchases to create value [14] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding demand trends, noting stable order trends across major business lines despite macroeconomic uncertainties [8] - The company anticipates that high capacity utilization rates in the cement industry will lead to an improved pricing environment as cement sales volumes rebound [10] - Long-term demand fundamentals are expected to favor the consumption of the company's products due to aging infrastructure and housing stock [12] Other Important Information - The company repurchased 358,000 shares for $79 million and paid a quarterly dividend, returning $87 million to shareholders during the first quarter [19] - The net debt to capitalization ratio remained at 46%, and the net debt to EBITDA leverage ratio was 1.6 times, indicating significant financial flexibility [20] Q&A Session Summary Question: Wallboard performance and demand drivers - Management noted that geographic positioning and trailing twelve-month volume analysis are key factors in outperforming the market, despite ongoing affordability issues in housing [22][23] Question: Cost dynamics in wallboard - Natural gas prices have stabilized, and the company has sufficient natural gypsum reserves, indicating no immediate cost concerns [24] Question: Joint venture operating earnings and ramp-up - Earnings were impacted by the ramp-up of a new facility and weather issues in Texas, but improvements are expected as the year progresses [27][28] Question: Cement volume cadence and regional dynamics - Cement volume demand has been consistent throughout the quarter, driven by infrastructure spending, with no significant regional deviations noted [35][38] Question: Wallboard volume outlook - Management expects wallboard demand to remain under pressure due to affordability issues, but believes the market is underbuilt in the medium to long term [41][42] Question: Cement pricing outlook - Management is optimistic about mid to long-term pricing potential as demand remains stable, but short-term pricing increases may be more challenging [49][50] Question: Wallboard pricing dynamics - Wallboard pricing has been range-bound, with expectations for similar trends until there is a meaningful increase in volume [59]

Group 1: Investor Relations Activities - The company conducted investor relations activities from July 24 to July 25, 2025, including specific object research and online meetings [3] - Attendees included various investment firms and securities companies, with a total of 40 participating entities [4] Group 2: Production and Financial Performance - The company’s 1500-ton aramid paper production line commenced trial production in June 2025, with capacity utilization expected to gradually increase in the second half of the year [5] - The net profit growth rate for the first half of the year exceeded revenue growth, attributed to a higher proportion of high-value-added products and maintained high capacity utilization [5] Group 3: Market Trends and Product Development - The most significant growth in the industry during the first half of the year was observed in the electrical insulation transformer sector, with strong demand in both domestic and European markets [6] - The company has initiated the industrialization of RO membrane substrate products, expected to commence production in Q1 2026 [9] Group 4: Customer Structure and Market Strategy - Approximately one-third of the company’s customers are international, with a focus on optimizing overseas business layout [10] - The strategy for increasing overseas market share includes enhancing R&D for high-value products, deepening market penetration in Europe, and expanding into emerging regions like the Middle East and Asia-Pacific [11]

Report Summary 1. Report Industry Investment Rating - Not provided in the given content. 2. Core View of the Report - The market sentiment driven by previous policies has declined, and most industrial product futures fell during the day, with V2509 dropping 2.68% to close at 5,149 yuan/ton [3]. - In the supply side, last week's PVC capacity utilization rate decreased by 0.80% week - on - week. With the completion of most domestic PVC maintenance in July, and some restarting and continuous shutdown of certain plants next week, the capacity utilization rate is expected to rise slightly, and the new capacity load is gradually increasing, intensifying future supply pressure [3]. - On the demand side, it is the off - season for domestic downstream demand, with only rigid procurement. The Indian BIS certification is postponed to mid - December, and the anti - dumping policy release is delayed, but the rainy season still hinders overseas demand transmission [3]. - In terms of cost, next week, the supply of calcium carbide will exceed demand, putting pressure on prices; the ethylene fundamentals change little, and the price may fluctuate slightly [3]. - From a macro perspective, the EU - US tariff agreement has been reached, and the latest progress of Sino - US tariff negotiations should be monitored. The daily K - line of V2509 should focus on the support around 5,100 [3]. 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs 3.1 Futures Market - The closing price of PVC futures was 5,149 yuan/ton, a decrease of 224 yuan; the trading volume was 2,133,221 lots, an increase of 269,370 lots; the open interest was 818,506 lots, a decrease of 41,811 lots [3]. - The long positions of the top 20 futures holders were 744,296 lots, a decrease of 6,830 lots; the short positions were 758,920 lots, an increase of 11,247 lots; the net long positions were - 14,624 lots, a decrease of 18,077 lots [3]. 3.2 Spot Market - In the East China region, the price of ethylene - based PVC was 5,175 yuan/ton, an increase of 60 yuan; the price of calcium carbide - based PVC was 5,173.46 yuan/ton, an increase of 72.69 yuan [3]. - In the South China region, the price of ethylene - based PVC was 5,165 yuan/ton, an increase of 30 yuan; the price of calcium carbide - based PVC was 5,135 yuan/ton, an increase of 46.88 yuan [3]. - The CIF price of PVC in China was 700 US dollars/ton, unchanged; the CIF price in Southeast Asia was 680 US dollars/ton, unchanged; the FOB price in Northwest Europe was 750 US dollars/ton, unchanged [3]. - The basis of PVC was - 213 yuan/ton, a decrease of 45 yuan [3]. 3.3 Upstream Situation - The mainstream average price of calcium carbide in Central China was 2,650 yuan/ton, unchanged; in North China, it was 2,581.67 yuan/ton, a decrease of 16.67 yuan; in Northwest China, it was 2,353 yuan/ton, a decrease of 15 yuan [3]. - The mainstream price of liquid chlorine in Inner Mongolia was - 550 yuan/ton, unchanged [3]. - The mid - price of VCM CFR in the Far East was 503 US dollars/ton, unchanged; in Southeast Asia, it was 548 US dollars/ton, unchanged [3]. - The mid - price of EDC CFR in the Far East was 211 US dollars/ton, unchanged; in Southeast Asia, it was 219 US dollars/ton, unchanged [3]. 3.4 Industry Situation - The weekly operating rate of PVC was 76.79%, a decrease of 0.8 percentage points; the operating rate of calcium carbide - based PVC was 79.25%, a decrease of 0.46 percentage points; the operating rate of ethylene - based PVC was 70.27%, a decrease of 1.68 percentage points [3]. - The total social inventory of PVC was 42.7 tons, an increase of 1.6 tons; the inventory in East China was 37.82 tons, an increase of 1.41 tons; the inventory in South China was 4.88 tons, an increase of 0.19 tons [3]. 3.5 Downstream Situation - The national real estate climate index was 93.6 (with 2012 as the base year of 100), a decrease of 0.12 [3]. - The cumulative completed area of real estate construction was 633,321.43 million square meters; the cumulative new construction area was 8,301.89 million square meters; the cumulative completed real estate development investment was 30,364.32 billion yuan [3]. 3.6 Option Market - The 20 - day historical volatility of PVC was 29.52%, an increase of 4.98 percentage points; the 40 - day historical volatility was 22.62%, an increase of 3.12 percentage points [3]. - The implied volatility of at - the - money put options was 27.93%, an increase of 6.25 percentage points; the implied volatility of at - the - money call options was 27.91%, an increase of 6.23 percentage points [3]. 3.7 Industry News - On July 28, the spot exchange price of PVCSG5 in Changzhou warehouses decreased by 60 - 80 yuan/ton compared to last Friday, with the price ranging from 5,070 to 5,150 yuan/ton [3]. - From July 12th to 18th, China's PVC capacity utilization rate was 77.59%, a week - on - week increase of 0.62% [3]. - As of July 24th, the PVC social inventory increased by 3.97% week - on - week to 68.34 tons, a year - on - year decrease of 28.23% [3].

1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. 2. Core Views of the Report - The overall trend of commodities is driven by macro - sentiment. PTA may experience a short - term decline from high levels under the expectation of a fall in commodity sentiment due to new device production and poor terminal performance. MEG is expected to mainly follow cost fluctuations in the short term, with its cost support limited and supply pressure postponed [6]. - The cost side shows that crude oil continues to fluctuate widely, and PX is expected to run warmly in the short term. The supply side of PTA remains stable, while the total supply of MEG is expected to increase. The demand side of polyester is expected to change little, and the terminal demand is weakly declining [6]. 3. Summary According to the Table of Contents 3.1 Upstream Industry Chain Analysis - **Market Review**: OPEC+ is still in the process of increasing production, and geopolitical tensions are easing, leading to a decline in international crude oil. PX prices increased slightly due to good commodity sentiment despite limited support from cost and a weakening naphtha [16]. - **Capacity Utilization**: Tianjin Petrochemical's maintenance led to a narrow decline in PX capacity utilization. The domestic PX weekly average capacity utilization was 82.81%, down 0.35% from last week, and the Asian PX weekly average capacity utilization was 72.87%, down 0.28% [21]. - **Price Spread**: The PX - naphtha price spread rebounded slightly as naphtha prices weakened and commodity sentiment was good in China. As of July 25, the PX - naphtha price spread was 292.5 dollars/ton, up 30.55 dollars/ton from July 18 [22]. 3.2 PTA Fundamental Analysis - **Market Review**: Driven by macro factors, PTA had a weak rebound. The supply was stable, demand shrank slightly, and the balance sheet continued to accumulate inventory. As of July 25, the PTA spot price was 4900 yuan/ton, and the spot basis was 2509 - 5 [27]. - **Capacity Utilization**: There were no significant changes in PTA devices this week, and the capacity utilization fluctuated narrowly at 80.76%, remaining flat compared to the previous period. In July, Helen Petrochemical plans to start production, and Hengli has a maintenance plan, so the PTA capacity utilization is expected to fluctuate slightly [30]. - **Processing Fee**: The PTA processing fee was significantly repaired. Although the balance sheet continued to accumulate inventory and downstream procurement enthusiasm was blocked, there was an expectation of increased maintenance at low processing fees, so the processing fee is expected to continue to be repaired at a low level next week [31]. - **Supply - Demand Situation**: In July, with the commissioning of new PTA devices and the implementation of polyester production cuts, the supply - demand of PTA turned to inventory accumulation [34]. 3.3 MEG Fundamental Analysis - **Market Review**: Driven by macro and cost factors, ethylene glycol rebounded significantly. After breaking through and rising, it entered a high - level volatile trend. As of July 25, the closing price of Zhangjiagang ethylene glycol was 4579 yuan/ton, and the delivered price in the South China market was 4580 yuan/ton [40]. - **Capacity Utilization**: Some devices reduced their loads, and the ethylene glycol capacity utilization decreased slightly. The total domestic ethylene glycol capacity utilization was 59.20%, up 0.71% compared to the previous period. In July, domestic production is expected to increase, and overall supply will increase slightly [44]. - **Port Inventory**: Due to weak terminal demand, the ethylene glycol port inventory fluctuated at a low level. As of July 24, the total ethylene glycol port inventory in the East China main port area was 47.5 tons, up 1.57 tons from July 21 [46]. - **Processing Profit**: Ethylene glycol rebounded from a low level, and processing profits increased across the board. As of July 25, the profit of naphtha - based ethylene glycol was - 81.9 dollars/ton, up 20.69 dollars/ton from last week, and the profit of coal - based ethylene glycol was 75.2 yuan/ton, up 35.73 yuan/ton from last week [51]. 3.4 Downstream Demand Side of the Industry Chain Analysis - **Capacity Utilization**: Due to large - scale production cuts, the polyester capacity utilization decreased slightly to 86.4%, down 0.29% from the previous period. It is expected that the domestic polyester supply will decline significantly next week [54]. - **Production Volume**: In July, due to the seasonal off - season and high cash - flow pressure, the polyester monthly output is expected to decline significantly [56]. - **Capacity Utilization of Different Products**: The capacity utilization of polyester products was differentiated. The weekly average capacity utilization of polyester filament was 92.09%, down 0.85% from the previous period; the average capacity utilization of polyester staple fiber was 84.78%, down 1.64% from the previous period; and the capacity utilization of fiber - grade polyester chips was 76.58%, up 0.22% from last week [61]. - **Inventory**: Due to downstream centralized replenishment, the inventory of polyester products decreased significantly [62]. - **Cash - Flow**: With the significant increase in raw material prices, the cash - flow of polyester products was compressed, and the cash - flow loss expanded [67]. - **Weaving Market**: The off - season atmosphere in the weaving market deepened, and the start - up rate continued to decline. As of July 24, the comprehensive start - up rate of chemical fiber weaving in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions was 55.59%, down 0.24% from the previous period, and the average terminal weaving order days were 6.94 days, a decrease of 0.33 days from last week [70]. 3.5 Summary of the Polyester Industry Chain Fundamentals - **Cost Side**: Crude oil declined, and PX prices increased slightly due to good commodity sentiment [72]. - **Supply Side**: The PTA capacity utilization remained flat, and the MEG capacity utilization increased slightly [72]. - **Demand Side**: The polyester capacity utilization decreased slightly, and the weaving industry start - up rate was low with weak terminal demand [72]. - **Inventory**: PTA inventory shifted from destocking to inventory accumulation, and the MEG port inventory in the East China main port area fluctuated [73].

Core Viewpoint - The company experienced a significant decline in revenue and profitability in 2024, attributed to a downturn in the real estate market and increased competition in the coating industry [1][2][3] Financial Performance - The company achieved a revenue of 2.052 billion yuan in 2024, a year-on-year decrease of 34.01%, with a corresponding operating cost of 1.658 billion yuan and a gross margin of 19.23% [1][4] - The net cash flow from operating activities was -419 million yuan, a reversal from a positive cash flow of 438 million yuan in 2023 [1][4] - Quarterly revenue for 2024 was reported as 295 million yuan, 748 million yuan, 682 million yuan, and 328 million yuan, with net profits of -88 million yuan, 53 million yuan, -3 million yuan, and -321 million yuan respectively [1][4] Industry Context - The overall coating industry faced a downturn due to a 10.6% year-on-year decline in real estate development investment and a 12.7% decrease in construction area [3][4] - The competitive landscape in the coating industry is fragmented, with a low market concentration (CR10 at 21.72%), leading to aggressive pricing strategies among companies [3][4] Comparison with Peers - The company's revenue decline is consistent with trends observed in comparable companies, with most peers also experiencing significant drops in revenue and profitability [4][5] - For instance, the company’s engineering coating revenue fell by 48.64%, while peers like "Three Trees" and "Oriental Yuhong" also reported declines in their respective revenues [4][5] Operational Challenges - The company’s shift towards a distribution model, which accounted for 86.48% of its revenue, faced challenges due to market conditions and increased competition [1][2] - The company reported a decrease in the number of registered distributors from the previous year, indicating potential issues in market penetration and sales [1][2] Cash Flow and Expenses - The company’s cash receipts from sales dropped by 47.21% to 1.721 billion yuan, which was a steeper decline than the revenue drop [4][5] - Increased operational expenses were noted, particularly in the fourth quarter, attributed to year-end settlements and higher financing costs [5][6]

Core Viewpoint - The report highlights the phenomenon of "involution" in various industries within the A-share market, particularly emphasizing the midstream manufacturing sector's more pronounced competition compared to upstream resource industries. It notes that the willingness to expand production has significantly decreased across most industries, with over half showing strong capacity for expansion [1][2]. Existing Capacity Utilization Level - The industry capacity utilization rate is calculated using the Cobb-Douglas production function, measuring the ratio of actual output to potential maximum output under given capital and labor factors. As of Q1 2025, most industries are operating at historically low capacity utilization levels, with only the home appliance and electronics sectors showing upward trends [1]. Potential Incremental Capacity Level - The marginal changes in industry capacity will influence capacity utilization trends, particularly the timing of turning points. The willingness to expand production is assessed through the historical ratio of capital expenditures to depreciation. As of Q1 2025, most industries are at historically low levels of expansion willingness, except for utilities, coal, and non-ferrous metals, which show relatively stronger willingness. The expansion capacity is primarily determined by current cash reserves and cash flow, with most primary industries at historically high levels of expansion capacity [2]. Historical Capacity Clearing in Different Industries - In emerging industries, the clearing signal is linked to cash capability and a drop in expansion willingness. For instance, the solar industry experienced a rapid decline in capacity utilization from 2011 to 2015, reaching a low point in Q1 2013, followed by two years of low-level fluctuations until significant relief in overcapacity occurred in Q2 2014 when both cash capability and expansion willingness dropped to 0%. In traditional industries like steel and coal, the clearing signal is an improvement in cash capability, with both industries undergoing a prolonged decline in potential incremental capacity, leading to a "V" shaped trajectory in capacity utilization [3]. Current Capacity Clearing Trajectory - Drawing from past experiences, the report discusses the current capacity clearing trajectory. In the renewable energy sector, lithium battery and solar capacity utilization rates have reached historical lows, with lithium's potential incremental capacity and utilization rates declining earlier than solar. Both sectors' expansion willingness is nearing 0% for the first time in a decade, while cash capability remains around historical median levels. Traditional industries, such as steel and coal, are not facing severe overcapacity issues like in previous cycles, with current capacity utilization rates approaching 19-year lows, and signs of improving cash capability in basic chemicals and steel [4].