Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Buy" rating for the steel sector, specifically recommending stocks such as Hualing Steel, Nanjing Steel, Baosteel, and New Steel [3][6][9]. Core Insights - The report emphasizes that the current market is experiencing uneven performance, with a focus on the technology sector while traditional industries face significant adjustments. The report suggests that the era of capital oversupply is establishing a foundation for a golden period in capital markets [2]. - The report highlights that the average daily pig iron production has slightly increased, and the total inventory growth has narrowed, indicating a potential improvement in market conditions [14][26]. - The apparent consumption of steel has shown a month-on-month improvement, particularly in rebar demand, which has increased significantly [43]. Summary by Sections Market Review - The CITIC Steel Index closed at 1,778.35 points, down 2.74%, underperforming the CSI 300 Index by 2.30 percentage points, ranking 25th among 30 CITIC primary sectors [1][92]. Supply and Production - The average daily pig iron production rose by 0.5 million tons to 241.1 million tons, while the production of rebar decreased slightly, and hot-rolled production saw a minor increase [14][19]. - In August 2025, crude steel production was 77.37 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 0.7%, while steel production increased by 9.7% to 122.77 million tons [15][8]. Inventory - Total steel inventory continued to accumulate, with a weekly increase of 0.3%, but the growth rate has narrowed by 0.6 percentage points compared to the previous week [26][28]. - The social inventory of five major steel products was 11.014 million tons, up 0.6% week-on-week and 7.3% year-on-year [28]. Demand - The apparent consumption of five major steel products was 8.503 million tons, up 0.8% month-on-month but down 4.6% year-on-year, indicating a mixed demand scenario [53]. - The average weekly transaction volume of construction steel was 106,000 tons, reflecting a 3.3% increase from the previous week [44]. Raw Materials - Iron ore prices have shown a slight increase, with the Platts 62% iron ore price index at $106.6 per ton, up 0.2% week-on-week and 17.9% year-on-year [62]. - The report notes that the coal and electricity investment completion amount reached 96 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 52.4%, indicating a positive outlook for related sectors [8]. Prices and Profits - The comprehensive steel price index increased by 0.5% week-on-week, suggesting a potential for continued price strength as industry fundamentals improve [72]. - The current spot price for rebar in Beijing is 3,200 yuan per ton, reflecting a 0.3% increase week-on-week [73].

Investment Rating - The industry is rated as "Buy" for key companies such as Hualing Steel, Nanjing Steel, Baosteel, and Xinguang Steel, indicating strong potential for price appreciation [8]. Core Viewpoints - The report suggests that the steel industry is experiencing a recovery phase, with expectations of improved fundamentals driven by supply-side reforms and demand recovery [14]. - The overall economic growth in the first half of the year was supported by both external and internal demand, with GDP growth reaching 5.3% [2]. - The report highlights that the steel sector is currently in a phase of capital surplus, which is expected to provide a favorable environment for market performance [2]. Supply Analysis - Daily average pig iron production has slightly increased to 2.408 million tons, with a marginal rise in long-process production [13]. - The capacity utilization rate for blast furnaces across 247 steel mills is reported at 90.3%, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 4.4% [18]. - The total inventory of five major steel products has increased by 1.8%, but the growth rate has narrowed compared to previous weeks [25]. Demand Analysis - Apparent consumption of five major steel products has improved, with a week-on-week increase of 2.6%, totaling 8.53 million tons [52]. - The demand for rebar has shown a recovery, with weekly consumption reaching 1.948 million tons, up by 2.6% [52]. Price and Profitability - The report notes a decline in steel prices, with the Myspic comprehensive steel price index decreasing by 1.1% week-on-week [73]. - The current cost of long-process rebar is reported at 3,428 CNY per ton, with a negative margin of 140 CNY per ton [73]. - The profitability of steel mills is under pressure, with a slight decrease in immediate gross margins observed [73]. Key Companies and Recommendations - The report recommends focusing on companies with strong safety margins and undervalued positions, including Hualing Steel, Nanjing Steel, and Baosteel [2]. - Companies benefiting from the energy sector, such as Jiuli Special Materials and Yongjin Co., are highlighted for their potential growth due to favorable market conditions [2].