Liquidity - The negative difference in the growth rates of M1 and M2 has expanded for three consecutive months, reaching -4.7 percentage points in December 2025 [3] - The BCI small and medium enterprise financing environment index for December 2025 is 47.15, a month-on-month decrease of 10.19% [3] - The correlation between the M1 and M2 growth rate difference and the Shanghai Composite Index is strong, with the difference in December 2025 being -4.7 percentage points, a month-on-month decrease of 1.60% [3] Infrastructure and Real Estate Chain - In early January, the average daily crude steel output of key steel enterprises rebounded to levels seen in mid-October 2025 [3] - Price changes this week include rebar up by 1.22%, cement price index down by 0.94%, rubber down by 1.26%, coke unchanged, coking coal up by 1.23%, and iron ore down by 0.12% [3] - National blast furnace capacity utilization rate, cement, and asphalt operating rates changed by +0.04 percentage points, -1.92 percentage points, and +3.7 percentage points respectively [3] Real Estate Completion Chain - Prices of titanium dioxide and glass are at low levels, with titanium dioxide price unchanged and glass price down by 0.73% [4] - The gross profit for titanium dioxide is -1707 yuan/ton, while the flat glass operating rate is 73.89% this week [4] Industrial Products Chain - The operating rate of semi-steel tires is at the median level for the past five years, with a current rate of 73.44%, an increase of 7.55 percentage points [5] - Major commodity price changes this week include cold-rolled steel unchanged, copper up by 1.19%, and aluminum down by 0.25% [5] - Copper spot prices have reached a historical high, while tungsten concentrate prices have continued to reach new highs since 2012 [5] Price Comparison Relationships - The gold-silver price ratio in London has reached its lowest level since 2013 [6] - The price ratio of rebar to iron ore is 3.99 this week, with the price difference between hot-rolled and rebar steel at 30 yuan/ton [6] - The price difference between small rebar (mainly used in real estate) and large rebar (mainly used in infrastructure) reached 200 yuan/ton, an increase of 31.03% from last week [6] Export Chain - In December, China's PMI new export orders stood at 49.00%, an increase of 1.4 percentage points month-on-month [7] - The China Containerized Freight Index (CCFI) composite index this week is 1209.85 points, up by 1.25% [7] - The Ministry of Commerce and the General Administration of Customs announced that starting January 1, 2026, export licensing management will be implemented for certain steel products, which is expected to further regulate China's steel product exports [7] Valuation Percentiles - The CSI 300 Index decreased by 0.57% this week, with the best-performing cyclical sector being industrial metals, which increased by 2.81% [8] - The PB ratio of ordinary steel and industrial metals relative to the PB ratio of the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets is 28.96% and 100.00% respectively [8] - The current PB ratio of the ordinary steel sector relative to the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets is 0.50, with the highest value since 2013 being 0.82, reached in August 2017 [8]

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Accumulate" rating for the steel and non-ferrous metals sector [5] Core Insights - The M1 and M2 growth rate difference has been declining for three consecutive months, reaching -4.7 percentage points in December 2025, indicating a tightening liquidity environment [10][18] - The average daily crude steel production of key steel enterprises in early January has rebounded to levels close to mid-October 2025 [21][42] - The report highlights that the prices of titanium dioxide and glass are at low levels, with titanium dioxide priced at 13,200 CNY/ton and glass at 1,124 CNY/ton [79] Summary by Sections Liquidity - The M1 and M2 growth rate difference is -4.7 percentage points as of December 2025, a decrease of 1.60 percentage points month-on-month [10][18] - The BCI small and medium enterprise financing environment index was 47.15 in December 2025, down 10.19% from the previous month [10][18] - The current price of London gold is 4,599 USD/ounce, reflecting a 2.00% increase [10] Infrastructure and Real Estate Chain - The average daily crude steel production for key steel companies in early January is approximately 1.903 million tons, a 21.55% increase compared to the previous month [42] - The national high furnace capacity utilization rate is 85.48%, down 0.56 percentage points [42] - The price changes for various materials include rebar up 1.22%, cement price index down 0.94%, and rubber down 1.26% [21] Industrial Chain - The operating rate of semi-steel tires is at 73.44%, an increase of 7.55 percentage points [2] - Copper spot prices have reached a historical high, while tungsten concentrate prices have also hit a new high since 2012 [2] - The price of electrolytic aluminum is 24,000 CNY/ton, with a profit margin of 6,787 CNY/ton [2] Price Relationships - The price ratio of London spot gold to silver has reached a new low since 2013 [3] - The price difference between rebar and iron ore is currently 3.99 [3] - The price difference between small rebar (used in real estate) and large rebar (used in infrastructure) is 200 CNY/ton, a 31.03% decrease from the previous week [3] Export Chain - The new export orders PMI for China in December was 49.00%, an increase of 1.4 percentage points [3] - The CCFI composite index for container shipping rates is 1,209.85 points, up 1.25% [3] - The capacity utilization rate for U.S. crude steel is 75.70%, an increase of 1.30 percentage points [3] Valuation Percentiles - The CSI 300 index decreased by 0.57%, while the industrial metals sector performed best with a 2.81% increase [4] - The PB ratio of the steel sector relative to the CSI 300 is currently at 0.50, with a historical high of 0.82 [4] - The report suggests that the supply of steel may be reasonably constrained, leading to a potential recovery in sector profitability to historical average levels [4]

Liquidity - M1 and M2 growth rate difference reached a nearly 56-month high in September, followed by a decline for two consecutive months [4] - The BCI small and medium enterprise financing environment index for November 2025 is 52.50, up 0.17% month-on-month [4] - The M1 and M2 growth rate difference in November 2025 is -3.1 percentage points, down 1.10 percentage points month-on-month [4] - Current London gold spot price is $4,299 per ounce [4] Infrastructure and Real Estate Chain - The national blast furnace capacity utilization rate has been below the same period last year for two consecutive weeks [5] - Price changes this week include rebar down 0.61%, cement price index up 0.86%, rubber up 1.71%, coke down 3.29%, coking coal down 0.71%, and iron ore down 0.63% [5] - National capacity utilization rates for blast furnaces, cement, and asphalt are down 1.16 percentage points, down 0.30 percentage points, and up 0.3 percentage points respectively [5] Real Estate Completion Chain - Titanium dioxide gross profit is at a low level, with a gross profit of -1,679 yuan per ton [6] - Prices for titanium dioxide and glass remain unchanged week-on-week [6] - Flat glass operating rate this week is 73.82% [6] Industrial Products Chain - The semi-steel tire operating rate is at the median level for the past five years [7] - Major commodity price performance this week includes cold-rolled steel unchanged, copper up 2.59%, and aluminum down 0.36% [8] - National semi-steel tire operating rate is 71.57%, up 0.65 percentage points week-on-week [8] Subcategories - Prebaked anode prices are at the highest level since April 2023 [9] - Graphite electrode price is 19,000 yuan per ton, unchanged, with a gross profit of 3,128.56 yuan per ton, up 55.87% [9] - Electrolytic aluminum price is 22,070 yuan per ton, down 0.36%, with estimated profit of 4,759 yuan per ton (excluding tax), up 0.19% [9] - Electrolytic copper price is 93,970 yuan per ton, up 2.59% [9] - Tungsten concentrate price is 374,000 yuan per ton, up 5.65% week-on-week [9] Price Comparison Relationships - The price ratio of London spot gold to silver reached a new low since July 2021 [10] - The price ratio of rebar to iron ore this week is 4.07 [10] - The price difference between hot-rolled and rebar steel is 0 yuan per ton [10] - The price difference between Shanghai cold-rolled and hot-rolled steel is 490 yuan per ton, down 40 yuan per ton week-on-week [10] - The price ratio of stainless steel hot-rolled to electrolytic nickel is 0.11 [10] - The price difference between small rebar (mainly used in real estate) and large rebar (mainly used in infrastructure) is 190 yuan per ton, up 11.76% week-on-week [10] - The price difference between medium-thick plates and rebar is 30 yuan per ton [10] Export Chain - The China Export Container Freight Index (CCFI) composite index this week is 1,118.07 points, up 0.29% [11] - The U.S. crude steel capacity utilization rate is 75.70%, down 0.10 percentage points [11] - In November 2025, China's PMI new export orders are at 47.60%, up 1.7 percentage points month-on-month [11] - Starting January 1, 2026, China will implement export license management for certain steel products, which is expected to further regulate steel product exports [11] Valuation Percentiles - This week, the CSI 300 index is down 0.08%, with the best-performing cyclical sector being engineering machinery, up 0.30% [12] - The PB ratio of ordinary steel and industrial metals relative to the PB ratio of the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets is 34.35% and 96.70% respectively [12] - The PB ratio of the ordinary steel sector relative to the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets is currently 0.51, with the highest value since 2013 being 0.82 (reached in August 2017) [12]

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Overweight" rating for the steel and non-ferrous metals sectors [5] Core Insights - The blast furnace capacity utilization rate is expected to remain below last year's levels, indicating potential challenges in production efficiency [1] - The liquidity indicators show a decline in the growth rate difference between M1 and M2, which may impact market dynamics [10] - The construction and real estate sectors are experiencing a downturn, with significant declines in new construction and sales areas [22][79] Summary by Relevant Sections Liquidity - The M1 and M2 growth rate difference was -3.1 percentage points in November 2025, down by 1.10 percentage points month-on-month [10][18] - The BCI small and medium enterprise financing environment index was 52.50 in November 2025, reflecting a slight increase of 0.17% from the previous month [10][18] Construction and Real Estate Chain - The national blast furnace capacity utilization rate was 86% this week, down by 1.16 percentage points [9][42] - The cumulative year-on-year decline in new construction area for the first ten months of 2025 was -19.80% [22] - The cumulative year-on-year decline in commodity housing sales area for the same period was -6.80% [22] Industrial Products Chain - The operating rate of semi-steel tires was 71.57%, up by 0.65 percentage points [2] - The price of electrolytic aluminum was 22,070 yuan/ton, down by 0.36% [2] - The price of tungsten concentrate reached 374,000 yuan/ton, reflecting a week-on-week increase of 5.65% [2] Price Relationships - The price ratio of London spot gold to silver reached a new low since July 2021 [3] - The price of rebar was 3,250 yuan/ton, down by 0.61% [9][42] - The price of iron ore was 785 yuan/ton, down by 0.6% [9] Export Chain - The CCFI comprehensive index for container shipping rates was 1,118.07 points, up by 0.29% [3] - The U.S. crude steel capacity utilization rate was 75.70%, down by 0.10 percentage points [3] - New export orders in China's PMI for November 2025 were 47.60%, up by 1.7 percentage points [3] Valuation Metrics - The PB ratio for the steel sector relative to the Shanghai and Shenzhen markets is currently at 0.51, with historical highs reaching 0.82 [4] - The overall steel industry gross profit was 152 yuan/ton, reflecting a week-on-week increase of 3.6% [9]