Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Positive" and is maintained [9] Core Insights - In the first three quarters of 2025, the Chinese fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) market exhibited distinct characteristics of "price reduction, volume increase, structural differentiation, and channel reshaping." The overall market average price decreased by 2.4% year-on-year, but the decline has narrowed, indicating price stabilization. Third to fifth-tier cities have become the main drivers of sales recovery, while competition in first and second-tier cities has intensified. Notably, packaged food sales led with a growth rate of 3.4%, although the momentum is slowing due to price sensitivity. Beverages are the only category to experience a decline, significantly impacted by price wars and competition from freshly brewed tea drinks [2][4][27]. Summary by Sections Market Overview - The FMCG market in China is characterized by a "price reduction, volume increase" trend, with a 2.4% year-on-year decline in average prices, which is stabilizing. Sales growth in lower-tier cities contributed approximately 80% to market growth, with a year-on-year increase of 4-6% [17][21][27]. Category Performance - Packaged food sales grew by 3.4% year-on-year, driven by stable demand for core and snack food categories. However, growth momentum is slowing, with quarterly growth rates of 4.6%, 4.2%, and 2.9%. In contrast, the beverage category saw a 1.1% decline in sales, despite a 3.6% increase in volume, primarily due to a 4.6% drop in average prices [21][25][27]. Channel Dynamics - The channel landscape is evolving, with traditional offline channels continuing to shrink. Emerging formats such as warehouse membership stores and snack collection stores are experiencing rapid growth, with increases of approximately 40%, 51%, and 92% respectively. E-commerce channels also showed resilience with a growth rate of about 7% [22][27]. Subsector Performance - The food and beverage sector has seen a mixed performance, with the overall index down 3.66% since the beginning of the year, lagging behind the CSI 300 index. However, subsectors like snack foods, food composites, and soft drinks have shown relative strength in recent weeks [29][35]. Industry Trends - The liquor industry is undergoing strategic adjustments, with major companies like Kweichow Moutai and Wuliangye implementing market reforms. Fast food and coffee brands are leveraging price adjustments and co-branding initiatives to attract consumers. The soft drink sector is focusing on product innovation and brand exposure, while the dairy sector is investing in capacity expansion and governance changes [35][36][37].