Core Insights - The dairy industry is experiencing a prolonged adjustment phase, with supply and demand still in the process of balancing, leading to a focus on cost reduction and efficiency among dairy companies [1][3] - Despite some signs of revenue decline slowing down, the industry has not yet fully recovered, with many companies still facing significant pressure [2][3] - The need to stimulate consumer demand for dairy products is critical, with innovation seen as a potential solution [1][4] Industry Performance - In 2024, the dairy industry faced intensified cyclical contradictions, with listed dairy companies reporting generally pressured performance [2] - Some companies, like Yiming Foods, reported a revenue increase of 1.8% in Q1 2025, down from 4.1% for the entire year of 2024, while Tianrun Dairy saw a decline of 2.5% in Q1 2025 compared to a 3.3% increase in 2024 [2] - The overall revenue decline for companies like Yantang Dairy and Western Pastoral continues to widen, with declines of 11.8% and 20.9% respectively [2] Market Dynamics - Promotional activities in the dairy sector have intensified, with significant discounts reported in retail, such as "buy one get one free" offers on fresh milk [2] - Sales volume for low-temperature pure milk showed slight growth in Q4 2024, but sales revenue still experienced a year-on-year decline, indicating a challenging market environment [2] Supply Chain Adjustments - The dairy industry has been undergoing a three-year cyclical adjustment, with milk production showing a decline for the first time since 2018, with a total production of 40.79 million tons in 2024, down 2.8% [3] - The average sales price of raw milk in 2024 was 3.32 yuan/kg, a significant drop of 13.42% year-on-year, attributed to rapid capacity expansion and weak consumer demand [3] Innovation and Consumer Demand - The industry is urged to focus on restoring the balance of raw milk supply and demand, with calls for innovative approaches to stimulate consumption [4] - There is a growing emphasis on developing functional and age-appropriate products, with high-end product growth beginning to show positive trends [4][5] - Current per capita dairy consumption in China is 42.4 kg, significantly below the Asian and global averages, indicating substantial growth potential [4]