Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is "Positive" [1] Core Viewpoints - The packaging paper prices are steadily increasing, supported by strong seasonal demand and effective price transmission from leading companies like Nine Dragons and Shanying [4] - The price of pulp is stabilizing, with domestic bleached softwood pulp priced at 5725 CNY/ton and bleached hardwood pulp slightly increasing to 4232.5 CNY/ton, indicating a trend towards a balanced supply-demand relationship [4] - The industry is accelerating its transformation towards high-end, green, and intensive development, as evidenced by significant projects like the 280,000-ton specialty paper project by Jindong Paper [4][26] - The valuation of the paper sector remains low historically, with strong cash flow and high certainty in mid-term performance, suggesting potential for valuation recovery [4] Summary by Sections Industry News - The recent price increases in raw paper are a response to rising costs, with many paperboard manufacturers issuing price hikes of 3%-4% [6] - Leading companies in the packaging paper sector have initiated multiple price increases since August, driven by high raw material costs [7] High-Frequency Data - The average pulp futures inventory has decreased to 239,900 tons, indicating a tightening supply [8] - The average closing price for pulp futures is 4999.2 CNY/ton, reflecting a slight increase [9] Company Events and Announcements - Nine Dragons Paper reported a 135.4% year-on-year increase in net profit for the fiscal year 2025, reaching 1.767 billion CNY, with significant growth in sales volume and revenue [27] - Jindong Paper's specialty paper project has reached a construction milestone, emphasizing the company's commitment to market transformation and green development [26] Investment Strategy - The report suggests focusing on leading companies in the packaging paper sector that are benefiting from seasonal demand and price increases, while also considering companies with clear growth paths and resilience to economic cycles in specialty and consumer paper segments [29]