Group 1: Investment Rating - The investment rating of the steel industry is ★★ [6] Group 2: Core Viewpoints - Last week, the price of the rebar 2510 contract rose by 0.45%, and it increased by 1.3% during the night session on Friday [4] - The production and apparent demand of rebar decreased for the second consecutive week last week. The steel mill inventory changed from increasing to decreasing, and the social inventory changed from decreasing to increasing. The "anti-involution" supports steel prices, and the fundamentals of upstream coking coal and coke are gradually improving, driving the overall black sector to fluctuate stronger [5][34] - It is recommended to take a bullish approach with low-level fluctuations [6][35] Group 3: Summary by Directory Price Analysis - **Futures Price**: No specific data provided [7] - **Spot Price**: As of July 18, 2025, the spot price of rebar in Shanghai was 3,270 yuan/ton, up 40 yuan/ton from the previous trading day, and in Tianjin it was 3,220 yuan/ton, up 50 yuan/ton [13] - **Basis and Spread**: No specific data provided [14] Important Market Information - On July 15, the China Iron and Steel Industry Association proposed suggestions at the meeting, including controlling increments, optimizing stocks, promoting mergers and reorganizations, and ensuring smooth exits. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will promote key industries to adjust structures and eliminate backward production capacity [17] - Canada will expand the scope of import steel tariff quotas and tighten existing quotas from August 1, and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce believes this violates WTO rules [18] Supply - side Situation - No specific data provided [19] Demand - side Situation - As of June 2025, the current value of the non - manufacturing PMI for the construction industry was 52.8, a month - on - month increase of 1.8%; the current value of the steel circulation industry purchasing manager index was 45.6, a month - on - month decrease of 1.9% [25] Fundamental Analysis - The blast furnace operating rate of 247 steel mills was 83.46%, a month - on - month increase of 0.31% and a year - on - year increase of 0.83%; the blast furnace ironmaking capacity utilization rate was 90.89%, a month - on - month increase of 0.99% and a year - on - year increase of 1.27%; the steel mill profitability rate was 60.17%, a month - on - month increase of 0.43% and a year - on - year increase of 28.14%; the daily average pig iron output was 2.4244 million tons, a month - on - month increase of 26,300 tons [34] - The total inventory of imported iron ore in 47 ports was 143.8151 million tons, a month - on - month increase of 346,200 tons; the daily average port clearance volume was 3.3876 million tons, an increase of 96,000 tons. The total inventory of imported iron ore in 45 ports was 137.8521 million tons, a month - on - month increase of 193,200 tons; the daily average port clearance volume was 3.2274 million tons, an increase of 323,000 tons [34] 后市 Outlook - The production and apparent demand of rebar decreased for the second consecutive week last week. The steel mill inventory changed from increasing to decreasing, and the social inventory changed from decreasing to increasing. The "anti-involution" supports steel prices, and the fundamentals of upstream coking coal and coke are gradually improving, driving the overall black sector to fluctuate stronger [5][34] Operation Strategy - It is recommended to take a bullish approach with low-level fluctuations [6][35]

Core Insights - The competitive landscape between Japanese and Chinese steel companies is influenced by structural overcapacity in China's steel industry, low concentration levels, and continuous technological advancements [1][2] - Japanese steel company Nippon Steel has significantly higher profits compared to Chinese counterparts, with its net profit for 2024 at 350.2 billion yen (approximately 16.9 billion yuan), while the top five Chinese steel companies collectively earned less [1][3] - The profitability gap is attributed to Nippon Steel's advantages in raw material costs and product structure, focusing on high-end steel production [3][4] Industry Overview - The Chinese steel industry is facing a structural overcapacity issue, with a concentration rate of only 40% among the top ten steel companies, leading to intense competition and price wars [4][5] - In 2024, the total profit of key Chinese steel enterprises dropped by 50.3% year-on-year, with Baosteel's net profit declining by 38.36% [5][6] - China's crude steel apparent consumption has decreased from a peak of 1.048 billion tons in 2020 to 892 million tons in 2024, indicating a downward trend in demand [6][7] Export Dynamics - Despite increasing steel exports, the average export price has fallen from $847.2 per ton in 2020 to $755 per ton in 2024, reflecting a challenging international market [7][8] - Trade protectionism against Chinese steel products has risen, with 33 anti-dumping investigations initiated in 2024 alone, surpassing the total from 2020 to 2023 [7][8] - Major export destinations for Chinese steel include Vietnam and South Korea, accounting for 11.5% and 7.4% of total exports, respectively [8][9] Technological Advancements - Chinese steel companies are increasingly focusing on technological innovation and product upgrades, with significant developments in high-strength and specialized steel products [11][12] - The industry is urged to shift from scale expansion to enhancing research and development capabilities, with some companies achieving breakthroughs in high-end steel products [11][12] - The Chinese Steel Industry Association plans to implement a new capacity governance mechanism to balance supply and demand effectively [12]