Summary of Conference Call Notes Industry Overview - **Industry**: Cement Industry in China - **Outlook**: Improved supply-demand dynamics expected to lead to a recovery in cement prices in the near term, supported by better-than-expected anti-involution policies in the long term [1][3] Key Points 1. **Clinker Price Increase**: - Clinker price in the Yangtze River Delta rose by Rmb30/t to Rmb230-240/t FOB due to planned 15-day off-peak production suspension and a bottoming out of prices after previous declines [2] - Cement shipments in the region were affected by adverse weather, operating at 50-60% capacity [2] 2. **Current Market Conditions**: - Cement prices in East China have bottomed, with industry leaders' gross profit per ton (GP/t) near last year's lowest levels, while smaller players are at break-even [3] - Cement inventory utilization is high at 70-80%, which may facilitate better implementation of off-peak production suspensions [3] 3. **Seasonal Improvement Expected**: - Cement shipments are currently low due to weather but are expected to improve seasonally until November [3] - Similar conditions are observed in South and Central China [3] 4. **Long-term Policy Implications**: - The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT) is expected to implement stricter anti-involution policies, potentially reducing approved clinker capacity from ~2.2 billion tons (bnt) to ~1.6 bnt by 2026 [4] - This reduction could improve clinker capacity utilization to ~65% in 2026 from ~50% currently, supporting further price improvements [4] 5. **Beneficiaries**: - Key beneficiaries of the expected price recovery include Anhui Conch, CNBM, CR Building Materials, and Huaxin Cement [3] Additional Insights - **Market Monitoring**: The implementation of price hikes needs to be closely monitored due to potential disruptions in cement shipments caused by weather conditions [2] - **Future Capacity Checks**: MIIT's capacity checks and the introduction of Technical Specifications for Clinker Production Monitoring may lead to more stringent operational standards [4] Conclusion - The cement industry in China is poised for a recovery in prices due to improved supply-demand dynamics and supportive government policies. Key players are expected to benefit from these changes, while ongoing monitoring of market conditions is essential for assessing the implementation of price increases and production adjustments.