Core Viewpoint - The infant formula market is undergoing significant changes, with a shift towards ultra-premium products driving growth, while overall market dynamics are becoming increasingly competitive and polarized [1][6][7]. Group 1: Market Trends - The infant formula market is projected to grow by 2.3% year-on-year in the first four months of 2025, with offline sales declining by 1.4% and online sales increasing by 12.3% [1]. - The ultra-premium segment is a key growth driver, with the ultra-premium+ market growing by 13.3% year-on-year, while the ultra-premium market itself declined by 4.8% [2]. - The market share of the ultra-premium+ segment reached 33.2%, with the ultra-premium segment at 31.2% [2]. Group 2: Company Performance - FrieslandCampina's Royal FrieslandCampina product became the best-selling single SKU in China, selling over 10 million cans in a year [2]. - Feihe's revenue reached 20.75 billion yuan in 2024, with a 6% year-on-year growth, and its ultra-premium product line saw sales increase by over 60% [3]. - Feihe holds a 17.5% market share, ranking first in the domestic market [4]. Group 3: Competitive Landscape - The competition between domestic and foreign brands in the infant formula market is intensifying [6]. - Foreign brands like Danone and Nestlé have reported significant growth in their Chinese market shares, with Danone's Aptamil series performing particularly well [10]. - The birth rate in China saw a slight increase in 2024, with 9.54 million newborns, which is expected to positively impact the infant formula industry [11]. Group 4: Consumer Behavior - Consumers are increasingly willing to spend on high-quality products, which is reflected in the growing trust in domestic brands [14][28]. - The average price of infant formula in China is relatively high compared to other countries, indicating a lower sensitivity to price among consumers [25][27]. Group 5: Strategic Approaches - Domestic brands like Feihe and Yili are implementing fertility subsidies to stimulate market growth, with Feihe planning to invest 1.2 billion yuan in subsidies [18][19]. - FrieslandCampina is focusing on maintaining a balanced and cautious approach to pricing and channel strategies, aiming for price consistency across online and offline platforms [21][22][23].