Employment and Economic Development - Employment is a key indicator of livelihood improvement, social stability, and economic development [1] - In the first quarter, Xinjiang achieved 130,100 new urban jobs, a year-on-year increase of 2.83% [1] - The region is leveraging its advantages in the Silk Road Economic Belt and Free Trade Zone to promote industrial development and attract businesses [1][2] Policy Support and Investment - 83 key projects were launched in the first quarter, with 95,100 new business entities established [2] - Fixed asset investment, foreign trade, consumption, and industrial development are showing overall improvement [2] - Policies are being implemented to ensure stable employment and explore growth potential [5] Employment Services and Support - Xinjiang's employment services are integrating digital tools to streamline policy implementation and support businesses [3] - Various employment subsidies have benefited over 77,600 individuals, amounting to approximately 89.37 million yuan [3] - The region is enhancing labor mobility through convenient medical and social security services [4] Talent Development and Retention - Xinjiang is implementing a talent strategy aligned with its industrial clusters, attracting high-level talent [5] - In the first quarter, 12 high-level talents were recruited in fields such as computer science and materials science [5] - The region is fostering a favorable environment for talent retention through supportive policies [5] Job Creation and Skills Training - Xinjiang organized 1,281 recruitment events in the first quarter, providing over 444,700 job opportunities [7] - The region is focusing on skills training to address employment challenges, with 304,900 individuals trained in various skills [13] - A new training model integrates vocational skills certification with industry requirements [11][12] Educational Initiatives - The establishment of the准东现代产业学院 aims to align education with industry needs, producing skilled graduates [14] - In 2023, the academy trained 1,297 students for employment in local enterprises [15] - The model promotes collaboration between government, industry, and educational institutions for sustainable employment development [15]

Core Viewpoint - The company, Shandong Huapeng Glass Co., Ltd., is set to hold a performance briefing on June 3, 2025, to discuss its Q1 2025 results and address investor inquiries [2][3][4]. Group 1: Meeting Details - The performance briefing will take place on June 3, 2025, from 09:00 to 10:00 [4]. - The meeting will be held at the Shanghai Stock Exchange Roadshow Center and will be conducted in an interactive online format [4][5]. - Investors can submit questions from May 26 to May 30, 2025, through the Roadshow Center website or via the company's email [2][5]. Group 2: Participants - Key participants in the briefing will include the Chairman and General Manager Liu Dongguang, Financial Officer and Board Secretary Jie Baohai, and Independent Directors Wei Xuejun and Wang Panna [4]. Group 3: Investor Participation - Investors can join the briefing online on June 3, 2025, and the company will respond to questions during the session [5]. - Pre-submitted questions will be addressed during the briefing, focusing on topics of general interest to investors [3][5]. Group 4: Contact Information - For inquiries, investors can contact the Securities Department at 0631-7379496 or via email at hp577@huapengglass.com [6]. Group 5: Additional Information - After the briefing, investors can access the meeting's details and main content through the Shanghai Stock Exchange Roadshow Center [7].

金晶科技（600586）公告，公司拟以1亿元-2亿元资金回购股份，回购价格不超过8.06元/股。本次回购 的股份将用于实施员工持股计划或股权激励，预计回购股份数量为1241-2481万股，占公司总股本的 0.87%-1.74%。回购期限为董事会审议通过之日起不超过12个月，资金来源为公司自有资金和股票回购 专项贷款。回购旨在维护公司股价稳定，增强投资者信心，促进公司长期可持续发展。若回购股份未全 部用于上述用途，未使用部分将依法予以注销。 ...

Report Industry Investment Rating - The report suggests a continued downward trend for the glass market, maintaining a bearish outlook for the 09 contract [2][3] Core Viewpoints - In April, the glass market showed a downward trend due to factors such as Sino - US trade frictions, insufficient demand during the traditional peak season, and high - level inventory. The supply slightly increased, and the demand from large processing plants improved slightly, but engineering orders were still poor. The price of coal decreased, and the profit of the coal - gasification process improved. The soda ash market had a short - term expectation of reduced production, but the upward rebound space was limited. Looking ahead, the Shahe gas switch plan is a negative event, and the glass market is expected to continue to decline [3] Summary by Directory 1. Market Review: Weak Operation and Strengthening Spread - **Price Trends**: As of April 30, the 5mm float glass market prices were 1,250 yuan/ton in North China (-10), 1,180 yuan/ton in Central China (0), and 1,370 yuan/ton in East China (0). The glass 09 contract closed at 1,082 yuan/ton last Friday, down 72 yuan from the previous week [13][14] - **Spread Analysis**: As of April 30, the spread between soda ash and glass futures was 270 yuan/ton (+51), the basis of the glass 09 contract was 118 yuan/ton (+53), and the 09 - 01 spread was -49 yuan/ton (-10) [15] 2. Supply - Demand Pattern: Coal Price Reduction and Weak Real Estate - **Import and Export**: In March, China's float glass imports were 389,800 weight - cases (year - on - year - 11.69%), and exports were 1,597,100 weight - cases (year - on - year + 109.73%) [23] - **Profit**: The cost and profit of different glass - making processes changed. The natural - gas process had a cost of 1,606 yuan/ton (-1) and a gross profit of -236 yuan/ton (+1); the coal - gasification process had a cost of 1,168 yuan/ton (-4) and a gross profit of 82 yuan/ton (-6); the petroleum - coke process had a cost of 1,141 yuan/ton (-33) and a gross profit of 39 yuan/ton (+33) [29] - **Supply**: The daily melting volume of glass was 158,705 tons/day (+200) last Friday. There were 225 production lines in operation, with 2 cold - repairs and 2 ignition restarts in April [31] - **Inventory**: As of April 30, the inventory of 80 glass sample manufacturers was 64,989,000 weight - cases (-484,000). Inventory changes varied by region, with increases in North China, South China, and Shahe factory warehouses, and decreases in Central China, East China, and Southwest China [39] - **Deep - processing**: The national average production - sales ratio of float glass was 100.48% (+0.64%), the LOW - E glass开工率 was 50.7% (+0.8%) on May 2, and the glass deep - processing order days were 9.3 days (+1.1) in mid - April [41] - **Demand - Automobile**: In March, China's automobile production was 3.006 million vehicles (month - on - month + 903,000, year - on - year + 319,000), and sales were 2.915 million vehicles (month - on - month + 786,000, year - on - year + 221,000). The retail volume of new - energy passenger vehicles was 991,000, with a penetration rate of 51.1% (month - on - month + 1.6%) [52] - **Demand - Real Estate**: In March, real - estate investment decreased year - on - year. New construction, construction, and sales data were poor. The transaction area of commercial housing in 30 large - and medium - sized cities from April 21 to April 27 was 1.93 million square meters (month - on - month + 29%, year - on - year - 25%) [57] - **Cost - Soda Ash - Price**: As of April 30, the mainstream market prices of heavy soda ash were 1,500 yuan/ton in North China (0), 1,450 yuan/ton in East China (-25), 1,400 yuan/ton in Central China (-25), and 1,575 yuan/ton in South China (0). The soda ash 2509 contract closed at 1,352 yuan/ton (-21), and the basis in Central China was 48 yuan/ton (+21) [65] - **Cost - Soda Ash - Profit**: By the end of the month, the ammonia - soda process cost of soda - ash enterprises was 1,521 yuan/ton (-30), with a gross profit of 35 yuan/ton (+17); the co - production process cost was 1,864 yuan/ton (-34), with a gross profit of 258 yuan/ton (+3) [66] - **Cost - Soda Ash - Inventory**: Last week, the domestic soda - ash production was 755,100 tons (week - on - week - 50), including 415,500 tons of heavy soda ash (week - on - week - 100) and 339,600 tons of light soda ash (week - on - week + 50). The warehouse receipt quantity was 3,949 (week - on - week - 341). As of April 30, the national factory - level inventory of soda ash was 1.6722 million tons (week - on - week - 20,700) [84] - **Cost - Soda Ash - Production and Sales**: Last week, the apparent demand for heavy soda ash was 439,400 tons (week - on - week + 57,800), and for light soda ash was 336,000 tons (week - on - week - 19,700). The production - sales ratio of soda ash was 102.69% (week - on - week + 5.11%) [86] 3. Investment Strategy - **Strategy**: The report recommends a "short 5, long 9" strategy. Considering the current situation of the glass market, including the weak demand during the off - season and the limited upward momentum of the market, this strategy is proposed [88]

Core Viewpoint - The company experienced significant declines in revenue and net profit in 2024, with challenges in both float glass and photovoltaic glass segments, but there are signs of recovery in photovoltaic glass prices in Q1 2025 [1][2][3]. Group 1: Financial Performance - In 2024, the company reported revenues, net profit attributable to shareholders, and net profit excluding non-recurring items of 15.65 billion, 380 million, and 290 million yuan, respectively, showing declines of -0.2%, -78.1%, and -82.6% year-on-year [1]. - For Q4 2024, the company achieved revenues, net profit attributable to shareholders, and net profit excluding non-recurring items of 4.05 billion, -320 million, and -330 million yuan, reflecting year-on-year declines of -10%, -162.4%, and -163.6% [1]. - In Q1 2025, the company reported revenues, net profit attributable to shareholders, and net profit excluding non-recurring items of 3.48 billion, 470 million, and -3 million yuan, with year-on-year changes of -9.7%, +6.4%, and -100.7% [1]. Group 2: Market Conditions - The float glass segment faced weak demand, with revenues declining by -24.3% to 6.86 billion yuan in 2024, driven by a decrease in real estate completion area [1]. - Float glass sales volume decreased by -6.4% to 10.7 million heavy boxes in 2024, with a corresponding drop in single box revenue by -15.2 yuan to 643 yuan [1]. - The average price of float glass in Q1 2025 was down -31.6% year-on-year, indicating ongoing industry challenges [1]. Group 3: Photovoltaic Glass Performance - The photovoltaic glass segment saw rapid growth in 2024, with revenues increasing by +68.6% to 5.75 billion yuan, supported by new production capacity [2]. - Despite a 124% increase in sales volume to 435 million square meters, the segment faced a price war, leading to a negative net profit of -0.6 yuan per square meter [2]. - In Q1 2025, photovoltaic glass prices began to recover, with a 5.2% increase in average price compared to the previous quarter [2]. Group 4: Profitability and Cost Structure - The overall gross margin for the company in 2024 was 15.5%, down by -9.5 percentage points year-on-year, primarily due to pressure on prices in both business segments [3]. - In Q1 2025, the gross margin improved to 12%, reflecting a recovery in photovoltaic glass prices and cost optimization efforts [3]. - The company recorded non-recurring gains of 470 million yuan in Q1 2025, contributing to a net profit margin of 13.5%, an increase of +2 percentage points year-on-year [3]. Group 5: Future Outlook - The company maintains a strong position in the float glass market, ranking second in capacity, benefiting from cost advantages such as self-sufficient silica sand and flexible fuel structures [4]. - In the photovoltaic glass segment, the company has become the third largest player, with expectations of improved profitability due to cost advantages [4]. - Revenue forecasts for 2025-2027 are projected at 16.777 billion, 18.170 billion, and 19.861 billion yuan, with corresponding net profits of 877 million, 1.230 billion, and 1.421 billion yuan, indicating significant growth potential [4].

2025 年 5 月 3 日 分析师：陈奇凡 执业证书编号：S0930523050002 021-52523819 chenqf@ebscn.com 市场数据 | 总股本(亿股) | 26.84 | | --- | --- | | 总市值(亿元)： | 145.18 | | 一年最低/最高(元)： | 4.60/8.12 | | 近 3 月换手率： | 40.63% | 公司研究 25Q1 利润环比改善，盈利水平触底回升 ——旗滨集团（601636.SH）2024 年年报及 2025 年一季报点评 买入（维持） 当前价：5.41 元 作者 分析师：孙伟风 执业证书编号：S0930516110003 021-52523822 sunwf@ebscn.com 股价相对走势 -34% -20% -7% 7% 21% 04/24 07/24 10/24 01/25 旗滨集团 沪深300 | 收益表现 | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | % | 1M | 3M | 1Y | | 相对 | -3.31 | -3.43 | -32.46 | | 绝对 | -6.24 | -4.08 | ...

Core Insights - North Beihai is leveraging its abundant quartz sand resources to develop a silicon-based new materials industry, significantly contributing to the local and regional industrial economy [1][4][5] - In 2024, the photovoltaic materials industry in Beihai is projected to achieve an output value of 11.28 billion yuan, highlighting its growing importance [2] Resource Advantages - Beihai is one of the three major high-quality quartz sand bases in China, with proven reserves exceeding 2.5 billion tons and potential reserves over 4 billion tons, featuring a silicon dioxide content of over 99.5% [3] - The local quartz sand is characterized by high silicon content and low iron content, making it suitable for photovoltaic glass production, which reduces production costs by approximately 100 yuan per ton compared to other regions [3] Strategic Planning - The Guangxi government is actively supporting the development of the silicon-based new materials industry in Beihai, aligning with national policies to promote local resource processing and industrial transformation [4] - Beihai has established a comprehensive industrial chain from quartz sand processing to photovoltaic glass and components, recognized as a national characteristic industrial cluster [5] Technological Innovation - Beihai is enhancing its research and development capabilities by collaborating with institutions like Wuhan University of Technology to establish a technology research center focused on silicon materials [7] - The introduction of advanced production technologies and automated production lines is ensuring high-quality output and energy efficiency in the silicon-based new materials industry [7][8] Market Positioning - Beihai's strategic location as a key node in the "Belt and Road" initiative, along with its favorable logistics and business environment, positions it well for the growth of the silicon-based new materials sector [9] - The establishment of a silicon-based materials research institute aims to support national strategies in semiconductor and renewable energy industries, enhancing technological competitiveness [8][9]

1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - In April, the float glass market faced dual pressures of "weak reality + weak expectation", with the price center continuing to decline. Macroscopically, there was no clear incremental policy information from the Politburo meeting in April, and the Sino - US trade war was at a stalemate. Although market risk appetite had somewhat recovered, tariff concerns remained, and the macro - sentiment was still cautious. Fundamentally, glass production and daily melting volume remained stable at a low level, with limited expectation of supply reduction. After the cost decreased, manufacturers' cold - repair plans slowed down, and the supply side could not effectively support the glass. Demand showed seasonal improvement, but the number of days of downstream deep - processing orders was significantly lower than the same period. The decline of the real estate industry narrowed but was still in the negative range, and the market demand expectation was weak. Upstream glass enterprises re - accumulated inventory, and under the pressure of medium - level inventory, the rebound of the futures market was suppressed to some extent. In the medium - to - long term, the annual supply of glass showed a downward trend, and demand had periodic increases. Prices would fluctuate significantly with changes in fundamentals. It was recommended that the industry seize the opportunity of high - level hedging. Attention should be paid to global market risk appetite, downstream production and sales, and domestic hedging policies [2]. 3. Summary by Related Catalogs 3.1 Market Review - **Futures Market**: As of April 29, the FG2509 contract closed at 1,234 yuan/ton, with a monthly change of - 9.4% [5]. - **Spot Market**: As of April 29, the monthly change range of spot prices was between - 2.3% and + 3.2% [5]. - **Basis**: In April, spot glass quotes showed regional differentiation, with the national average price increasing by 10 yuan/ton. The futures market was weak, driving the basis to strengthen. The basis of the main FG509 contract in Hubei was 68, and the basis rate was 5.6% [8]. - **Spread**: The spread of the FG05 - 09 contract was - 44 points, with the near - month contract weaker than the far - month contract. The spread of the FG09 - 01 contract was - 50 points, showing a pattern of near - month weakness and far - month strength. The glass showed a contango structure, with the near - month contract at par, and the reality was weak but the space was limited. The spread between soda ash and the glass 09 contract was 242 points, the same as on March 20 and 50 points wider than on April 20 [11][13]. 3.2 Supply Side - **Capacity Utilization**: In April, the capacity utilization rate decreased and was lower than the same period last year. The current start - up rate of the float glass industry was 75.42%, unchanged from the previous month and - 9.07% year - on - year. The capacity utilization rate was 78.41%, - 0.62% month - on - month and - 7.327% year - on - year [16]. - **Daily Melting Volume**: Currently, the daily melting volume of float glass was 157,200 tons, - 0.79% month - on - month and - 9.8% year - on - year. The monthly average daily output was 158,200 tons. It was estimated that the glass output in April was 4.74 million tons ( - 3.1% month - on - month and - 9.3% year - on - year) [19]. - **Cold - repair Loss**: In April, the daily average loss of float glass was 42,400 tons. It was estimated that the maintenance loss in April was 1.27 million tons ( - 3.6% month - on - month and + 46.8% year - on - year) [21]. 3.3 Demand Side - **Deep - processing Orders**: As of mid - April, the average number of days of orders for national deep - processing sample enterprises was 9.3 days, + 13.4% month - on - month and - 17.7% year - on - year. The performance of deep - processing orders varied. Some enterprises reported no obvious improvement compared with March and were lower than the same period last year. Currently, scattered orders maintained production, while some orders increased, especially in South China, Northeast China, Northwest China, and Southwest China, with little change in East China, North China, and Central China. As of April 25, 2025, the start - up rate of Chinese LOW - E glass sample enterprises was 46.7%, - 13.1 percentage points year - on - year [27]. - **Real Estate Demand**: From January to March 2025, the cumulative year - on - year changes in real estate sales area, new construction area, completion area, and development funds sources were - 3.0% ( + 2.1% month - on - month), - 24.4% ( + 5.2% month - on - month), - 14.3% ( + 1.3% month - on - month), and - 3.6% ( + 13.4% month - on - month) respectively. The decline in real estate sales, completion, and funds sources narrowed [30]. 3.4 Inventory - **Enterprise Inventory**: Currently, the total inventory of national float glass sample enterprises was 65.473 million heavy boxes, - 2.3% month - on - month and + 9.25% year - on - year. The inventory days were 29.4 days, 0.8 days less than in March and 4.8 days more than the same period last year [35]. - **Shahe Area Inventory**: Currently, the social inventory in the Shahe area was 3.6 million heavy boxes, - 21.7% month - on - month and the same as the same period last year. The replenishment of medium - level traders slowed down, and the inventory of upstream enterprises accumulated [39]. 3.5 Cost and Profit - **Cost**: Currently, the cost of petroleum coke - based production was 1,208 yuan/ton, + 4.5% month - on - month and - 1.47% year - on - year; the cost of coal - based production was 1,067 yuan/ton, - 2.11% month - on - month and - 18.55% year - on - year; the cost of natural gas - based production was 1,503 yuan/ton, - 2.02% month - on - month and - 12.11% year - on - year [44]. - **Profit**: Currently, the production profit of petroleum coke - based production was - 38.35 yuan/ton, - 18.11 yuan/ton month - on - month; the production profit of coal - based production was 145 yuan/ton, + 56.45 yuan/ton month - on - month; the production profit of natural gas - based production was - 153 yuan/ton, + 38.47 yuan/ton month - on - month [47]. 3.6 Strategies - **Unilateral Strategy**: The new main 09 contract reached around 1,080, falling near the dynamic coal - based cost. Dynamically track the suppression of the 20 - day moving average, and 1,150 became the watershed between bulls and bears [3]. - **Arbitrage Strategy**: The spread of the glass 9 - 1 contract was currently around - 50, and the market was in a back structure. Reverse arbitrage could still be participated in [3]. - **Hedging Strategy**: Currently, the glass industry chain showed the transmission characteristics of upstream inventory accumulation, medium - level sales stagnation, and downstream weakness. Currently, the inventory of upstream glass enterprises and medium - level traders was higher than the same period. The upstream and medium - level could consider selling hedging around 1,200 - 1,250 when the futures market was at a large premium based on their own spot inventory and sales situation [3].

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported first quarter adjusted earnings of $0.40 per share, down from the previous year but exceeding management's expectations due to stronger sales volume and Fit to Win benefits [4][14] - Shipments increased by more than 4% compared to last year, reflecting a gradual recovery in market conditions [4][6] - The Fit to Win program generated savings of $61 million in the first quarter, contributing significantly to better-than-expected results [4][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Segment operating profit improved significantly in The Americas, driven by strong demand and strategic initiatives, while results in Europe trended down due to lower net prices and temporary production downtime [4][15] - In The Americas, sales volume grew nearly 4%, with strong performance in beer and spirits, while Europe saw a nearly 4% increase in volume but faced competitive pricing pressures [8][42] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Overall shipments were up 4.4% in the first quarter, with growth driven by inventory rebuilding and contract negotiations [6][7] - Volumes increased across nearly all markets, particularly in beer and spirits, with Europe experiencing a rebound in customer inventory rebuilding [8][9] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is reaffirming its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting adjusted earnings to improve between 50% and 85% from 2024 [5][17] - The Fit to Win program aims to reduce total enterprise costs and optimize the network to support future profitable growth, with a target of $250 million in savings for 2025 [10][11] - The company is focused on improving its competitive position through strategic initiatives and is well-positioned to capitalize on opportunities arising from changes in global trade policies [21][23] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism regarding the operating environment, noting potential headwinds from new tariff policies but maintaining a stable volume outlook for the year [9][18] - The company is addressing excess capacity in Europe through temporary curtailments and is consulting with local works councils regarding long-term restructuring actions [8][9] Other Important Information - The company has made significant progress in reducing inventory, down approximately $225 million from the same time last year, and is on track to meet its year-end target of less than fifty days of inventory [16] - The company is leveraging its extensive glass network in the U.S. to enhance competitiveness, particularly in light of tariff dynamics affecting aluminum and imports from China [21][22] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about any pre-buy effects and the volume impact? - Management indicated that pre-buying had a limited impact on the stronger volume in the first quarter, with most strength attributed to underlying demand [27][28] Question: Are we looking at negative volumes in April? - Management noted a slight decline in volumes in April, adjusted for Easter, but emphasized that the overall outlook remains stable for the year [29][30] Question: Can you provide insights on volume progress by end market? - Management reported strong volume growth across most categories in The Americas, with beer and spirits performing particularly well, while Europe saw mixed results [42][44] Question: What are the drivers behind the realignment of French operations? - Management explained that the focus is on aligning assets with market opportunities, particularly in the premium segment, while continuing to invest in key markets like France [48][49] Question: Have you seen signs of aluminum tariffs impacting customer conversations? - Management acknowledged that while there is potential for shifts towards glass due to aluminum tariffs, it is still early to see significant impacts [52][53] Question: How do you expect net price headwinds to trend throughout the year? - Management indicated that net price headwinds are expected to be front-end loaded, with a moderation anticipated in the second half of the year [60][61] Question: How are you managing energy costs and raw materials? - Management confirmed favorable long-term energy contracts and emphasized a value chain approach to manage raw material costs effectively [74][78]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - The company reported first quarter adjusted earnings of $0.40 per share, down from the previous year but exceeding management's expectations due to stronger sales volume and Fit to Win benefits [4][14] - Shipments increased by more than 4% compared to last year, reflecting a gradual recovery in market conditions [4][6] - The Fit to Win program generated savings of $61 million in the first quarter, contributing significantly to better-than-expected results [4][10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Segment operating profit improved significantly in The Americas, driven by strong demand and strategic initiatives, while results in Europe trended down due to lower net prices and temporary production downtime [4][15] - In The Americas, sales volume grew nearly 4%, with strong performance in beer and spirits, while Europe saw a slight increase in volume but faced competitive pricing pressures [6][15] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - Shipments in The Americas were up more than 4%, with inventory normalization and structural demand improvement in Latin America [6][7] - In Europe, volumes increased nearly 4% driven by customer inventory rebuilding, but there were challenges due to excess capacity and temporary curtailments [7][15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is reaffirming its full-year 2025 guidance, expecting adjusted earnings to improve between 50% to 85% from 2024 levels [5][17] - The Fit to Win program aims to reduce total enterprise costs and optimize the network to support future profitable growth, with a target of $250 million in savings for 2025 [10][12] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed cautious optimism about the year, noting that while there are anticipated headwinds, the company is well-positioned to manage elements within its control [5][23] - The impact of changing global trade policies is uncertain, but the company believes it can capitalize on domestic production advantages [21][22] Other Important Information - The company is addressing excess capacity in Europe through temporary curtailments and is consulting with local works councils regarding long-term restructuring actions [7][15] - The company has made significant progress in reducing inventory, which is down approximately $225 million from the same time last year [16] Q&A Session Summary Question: Can you talk about any pre-buy effects and volume impacts? - Management indicated that pre-buying had a limited impact on the stronger volume in the quarter, with stronger sales seen in January and February [30] Question: What is the outlook for volumes in April? - Volumes were down about 1% or 2% in April, but overall, the company maintains a stable volume outlook for the year [31][32] Question: Can you provide insights on volume progress by end market? - Strong volume growth was reported across most categories in The Americas, particularly in beer and spirits, while Europe saw mixed results with some softness in spirits [44][45] Question: What are the plans for French operations given the slowdown in wine? - The company is realigning its operations to focus on premium products, while continuing to invest in key markets like France [50][51] Question: How are tariffs on aluminum seen as an opportunity? - Management noted that if aluminum prices increase, it could help close the cost gap with glass, but they are focused on improving their cost base independently of tariffs [54][57] Question: What is the expected trend for net price and operating costs throughout the year? - Net price pressures are expected to moderate in the second half of the year, while curtailment costs are also anticipated to decrease [62][63] Question: How is the company managing energy costs? - The company has favorable long-term energy contracts and is well-positioned for the current year, with ongoing efforts to manage future energy costs [78][81]