Group 1: Market Overview - Global stock markets generally declined during the week of March 20, 2026, with the Hang Seng Index rising against the trend[2] - Major commodity futures, including gold, crude oil, aluminum, and copper, experienced price drops[2] - The US dollar index fell slightly by 0.98%, while the offshore RMB appreciated by 0.02% against the dollar[2] Group 2: Domestic Equity Market - In the domestic equity market, the average daily trading volume was 21,972 billion RMB, down from 24,805 billion RMB[2] - Among the Shenwan primary industries, only 2 sectors rose, while 29 sectors fell, with the most significant declines in non-ferrous metals (-11.82%) and basic chemicals (-10.53%)[2] Group 3: Commodity Supply and Demand - The ongoing Middle East tensions could lead to a global oil supply shortfall exceeding 10 million barrels per day, with natural gas markets also facing vulnerabilities[8] - China's diversified energy supply and transportation channels provide a competitive advantage, potentially leading to premium pricing in the market[8] Group 4: Interest Rates and Exchange Rates - The 1-year Chinese government bond yield decreased by 2.0 basis points to 1.2568%, while the 10-year yield increased by 1.56 basis points to 1.8299%[12] - The 2-year US Treasury yield rose by 15 basis points to 3.88%, and the 10-year yield increased by 11 basis points to 4.39%[12] Group 5: Economic Data and Expectations - The upcoming economic data releases include the S&P PMI and Michigan Consumer Sentiment Index, with expectations of manufacturing contraction in Germany and France[10] - In China, attention will be on February's industrial profit data, while Japan's core inflation rate is expected to decrease from 2% to 1.7%[10]

Investment Rating - The steel industry maintains an investment rating of "Positive" [2] Core Insights - The steel sector experienced a decline of 10.03% this week, underperforming the broader market, with specific segments such as special steel down 9.18% and iron ore down 10.96% [10][12] - Supply conditions show an increase in high furnace capacity utilization to 85.5%, while electric furnace utilization rose to 56.6% [24] - Demand for the five major steel products increased to 868.5 million tons, reflecting a week-on-week rise of 8.82% [34] - Social inventory of the five major steel products decreased by 12.26 million tons week-on-week, while factory inventory fell by 16.40 million tons [41] - The average price index for common steel is 3448.0 yuan/ton, with a slight week-on-week increase, while special steel is at 6622.7 yuan/ton [47] - Profit margins for rebar steel decreased to 59 yuan/ton, while electric furnace profit margins for construction steel fell to -86 yuan/ton [55] Supply Summary - As of March 20, the average daily pig iron production was 2.2815 million tons, with a week-on-week increase of 6.95% [24] - The total production of the five major steel products reached 744.1 million tons, marking a week-on-week increase of 2.41% [24] Demand Summary - The consumption of the five major steel products reached 868.5 million tons, with a week-on-week increase of 70.40 million tons [34] - The transaction volume of construction steel by mainstream traders was 94,000 tons, showing a slight decline [34] Inventory Summary - Social inventory of the five major steel products stood at 14.11 million tons, down 0.86% week-on-week [41] - Factory inventory of the five major steel products was 5.352 million tons, also down 2.97% week-on-week [41] Price & Profit Summary - The common steel price index increased by 2.56 yuan/ton week-on-week, while the special steel price index rose by 5.93 yuan/ton [47] - The profit for rebar steel decreased by 5.0 yuan/ton week-on-week, while the electric furnace profit for construction steel decreased by 8.0 yuan/ton [55] Raw Material Prices Summary - The spot price index for Australian iron ore (62% Fe) was 776 yuan/ton, with a week-on-week increase of 1.0 yuan/ton [73] - The price for coking coal at the port was 1600 yuan/ton, reflecting a week-on-week increase of 10.0 yuan/ton [73] Company Valuation Summary - Key companies in the steel sector include Baosteel, Hualing Steel, and Shougang, with projected earnings per share (EPS) and price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios indicating potential growth [74]

Economic Indicators - The latest GDP weekly high-frequency prosperity index as of March 21 is 5.3%, a slight increase from the previous value of 5.2%[9] - The industrial prosperity index is at 8.2%, up from 8.1%, while the service sector index rose to 3.2% from 3.0%[10] Production Sector - The service sector shows stable progress, with real estate transactions improving significantly, while metro passenger volume in 11 cities has decreased compared to last year[2] - The automotive steel tire operating rate continues to rise, nearing levels from the past two years, indicating a stable industrial sector[11] Demand Insights - Domestic consumption growth is projected at 3.5%, slightly up from 3.4%, influenced by fluctuations in oil prices[22] - The construction sector is recovering slowly post-holiday, with a funding availability rate of 50.7%, up 7.9 percentage points from the previous week[32] Real Estate Market - New housing sales in 30 major cities reached 166.49 million square meters, a 0.47% increase week-on-week, but a 17% decrease year-on-year[45] - Land transaction volume decreased by 342 million square meters compared to the previous week, reflecting a 5.11% year-on-year decline[45] Export Performance - Container throughput increased to 659,800 TEUs, up from 603,800 TEUs the previous week, with a year-to-date growth of 10.97%[51] - Global energy pressures are expected to positively impact China's export share, with ongoing strong external demand[2]

Valuation Summary - The overall valuation of A-shares as of March 20, 2026, shows the CSI All Share (excluding ST) PE at 21.7x and PB at 1.8x, positioned at the historical 81st and 43rd percentiles respectively [2] - The Shanghai Stock Exchange 50 PE is at 11.4x and PB at 1.3x, at the historical 57th and 34th percentiles [2] - The CSI 300 PE is at 14.0x and PB at 1.5x, at the historical 62nd and 36th percentiles [2] - The CSI 500 PE is at 35.1x and PB at 2.4x, at the historical 67th and 56th percentiles [2] - The ChiNext Index PE is at 41.2x and PB at 5.6x, at the historical 36th and 64th percentiles [2] Industry Valuation Comparison - Industries with PE valuations above the historical 85th percentile include Real Estate, Automation Equipment, Retail, IT Services, and Communication [2] - Industries with PB valuations above the historical 85th percentile include Electronics (Semiconductors) and Communication [2] - Industries with both PE and PB valuations below the historical 15th percentile include Securities, Food and Beverage, Medical Services, and White Goods [2] Industry Sentiment Tracking New Energy - In the photovoltaic sector, the price of polysilicon futures dropped by 11.8%, and the spot price fell by 3.2%, indicating cautious demand from downstream [2] - Battery material prices, including lithium, have seen significant declines, with lithium carbonate down by 3.9% [2] Technology TMT - The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rose by 0.3%, while the Taiwan Semiconductor Index fell by 0.4% [2] - The DRAM price index increased by 4.1%, indicating a positive trend in semiconductor pricing [2] Real Estate Chain - The national average price of rebar fell by 0.4%, while cement prices increased by 1.3% as construction activity picks up [3] - Real estate sales area decreased by 13.5% year-on-year in January-February 2026, indicating ongoing challenges in the sector [3] Consumer Sector - The average price of live pigs fell by 1.8%, prompting government intervention to stabilize prices [3] - Retail sales grew by 2.8% year-on-year in January-February 2026, showing signs of recovery in consumer confidence [3] Midstream Manufacturing - Manufacturing investment grew by 3.1% year-on-year in January-February 2026, supported by improved cash flow and external demand [3] - Industrial electricity consumption increased by 6.1%, reflecting a recovery in manufacturing and export activities [3] Cyclical Industries - Concerns over global economic stagnation have led to significant declines in metal prices, with COMEX gold down by 10.6% [3] - Brent crude oil prices rose by 0.5% to $104.41 per barrel, driven by geopolitical tensions affecting supply [3]

Valuation Summary - The overall valuation of A-shares as of March 20, 2026, shows the CSI All Share (excluding ST) PE at 21.7x and PB at 1.8x, positioned at the historical 81st and 43rd percentiles respectively [2] - The Shanghai Stock Exchange 50 PE is at 11.4x and PB at 1.3x, at the historical 57th and 34th percentiles [2] - The CSI 300 PE is at 14.0x and PB at 1.5x, at the historical 62nd and 36th percentiles [2] - The CSI 500 PE is at 35.1x and PB at 2.4x, at the historical 67th and 56th percentiles [2] - The ChiNext Index PE is at 41.2x and PB at 5.6x, at the historical 36th and 64th percentiles [2] Industry Valuation Comparison - Industries with PE valuations above the historical 85th percentile include Real Estate, Automation Equipment, Retail, IT Services, and Communication [2] - Industries with PB valuations above the historical 85th percentile include Electronics (Semiconductors) and Communication [2] - Industries with both PE and PB valuations below the historical 15th percentile include Securities, Food and Beverage, Medical Services, and White Goods [2] Industry Midstream Sentiment Tracking New Energy - In the photovoltaic sector, polysilicon futures prices fell by 11.8%, and spot prices dropped by 3.2%, indicating cautious demand from downstream [3] - Battery material prices, including lithium, have seen significant declines, with lithium carbonate down 3.9% [3] Technology TMT - The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index rose by 0.3%, while the Taiwan Semiconductor Index fell by 0.4% [3] - The DRAM price index increased by 4.1%, indicating a positive trend in semiconductor pricing [3] Real Estate Chain - The national average price of rebar fell by 0.4%, while cement prices increased by 1.3% as construction activity picks up [3] - Real estate sales area decreased by 13.5% year-on-year in January-February 2026, indicating ongoing challenges in the sector [3] Consumer Sector - The average price of live pigs fell by 1.8%, prompting government intervention to stabilize prices [3] - Retail sales grew by 2.8% year-on-year in January-February 2026, showing signs of recovery in consumer confidence [3] Midstream Manufacturing - Manufacturing investment grew by 3.1% year-on-year in January-February 2026, reflecting improved cash flow and external demand [3] - Industrial electricity consumption increased by 6.1% year-on-year, driven by higher manufacturing output [3] Cyclical Industries - Concerns over global economic stagnation have led to significant declines in metal prices, with COMEX gold down 10.6% and copper down 7.1% [3] - Brent crude oil prices rose by 0.5% to $104.41 per barrel, influenced by geopolitical tensions affecting supply [3]

Investment Rating - The steel industry is rated as "Positive" [2] Core Insights - The steel sector experienced a decline of 10.03% this week, underperforming the broader market, with specific segments such as special steel down 9.18% and iron ore down 10.96% [10][12] - Supply conditions show an increase in high furnace capacity utilization to 85.5%, while electric furnace utilization rose to 56.6% [24] - Demand for the five major steel products increased to 868.5 million tons, reflecting a week-on-week rise of 8.82% [34] - Social inventory of the five major steel products decreased by 0.86% week-on-week, while factory inventory fell by 2.97% [41] - The average price index for common steel is 3448.0 yuan/ton, with a slight week-on-week increase [47] - The report anticipates a long-term improvement in supply-demand dynamics, supported by cost factors and low valuations in the steel sector [3] Supply Summary - As of March 20, the average daily pig iron production was 2.2815 million tons, with a week-on-week increase of 6.95% [24] - High furnace capacity utilization increased by 2.61 percentage points to 85.5% [24] - Electric furnace capacity utilization rose by 6.13 percentage points to 56.6% [24] - Total production of the five major steel products reached 7.441 million tons, up 2.41% week-on-week [24] Demand Summary - Consumption of the five major steel products reached 8.685 million tons, with a week-on-week increase of 8.82% [34] - The transaction volume of construction steel by mainstream traders was 94,000 tons, showing a slight decline of 3.17% [34] - The transaction area of commercial housing in 30 major cities increased to 1.696 million square meters, reflecting a week-on-week rise [34] Inventory Summary - Social inventory of the five major steel products was 14.11 million tons, down 0.86% week-on-week [41] - Factory inventory of the five major steel products was 5.352 million tons, down 2.97% week-on-week [41] Price & Profit Summary - The common steel price index is 3448.0 yuan/ton, with a year-on-year decrease of 2.78% [47] - The special steel price index is 6622.7 yuan/ton, with a year-on-year decrease of 1.30% [47] - The profit for rebar production was 59 yuan/ton, down 7.81% week-on-week [55] - The profit for electric furnace construction steel was -86 yuan/ton, down 10.26% week-on-week [55] Raw Material Summary - The spot price index for Australian iron ore (62% Fe) was 776 yuan/ton, with a week-on-week increase of 1.0 yuan [73] - The price of coking coal at the port was 1600 yuan/ton, up 10.0 yuan week-on-week [73] - The price of first-grade metallurgical coke remained stable at 1715 yuan/ton [73] Company Valuation Summary - Key companies in the steel sector include Baosteel, Hualing Steel, and Shougang, with projected earnings per share (EPS) and price-to-earnings (P/E) ratios indicating potential for growth [74]

Investment Rating - The report indicates a neutral investment rating for the steel industry, reflecting a weak balance in the market and cautious procurement from steel mills [11][12]. Core Insights - The steel industry is experiencing a stable bottom in fundamentals, with an average profit margin of 42.0% despite a slight decrease in profitability [11][12]. - Iron ore prices are under pressure due to high port inventories and geopolitical factors, leading to a tight spot market [11][14]. - The demand for hot-rolled steel is recovering, but actual end-user follow-up remains insufficient, indicating a weak balance in the market [12]. Summary by Sections 1. Industry Overview & Index Performance - The steel production remains flat week-on-week, with high iron ore prices driven by sanctions and sufficient steel mill inventories [11]. - The CMRG's sanctions on BHP are identified as a key factor tightening the spot market for iron ore [11]. 2. Sub-industry Fundamentals Steel - Hot-rolled coil prices have shown slight adjustments, with an average price of 3389 RMB/ton, up 6 RMB/ton week-on-week [12]. - Total hot-rolled inventory increased to 4.724 million tons, indicating a slight rise in market pressure [12]. Coal and Coke - The coke market remains stable, with average prices holding steady around 1470 RMB/ton for wet quenching coke [13]. - The average daily coke production from 247 steel mills is 473,100 tons, with a capacity utilization rate of 86.46% [13]. Iron Ore - The average daily iron water production from 247 steel mills is 2.2815 million tons, reflecting a week-on-week increase [14]. - The port inventory of iron ore has decreased, indicating a tightening supply situation [14]. 3. Price Data Updates - The report provides detailed price updates for various steel products, including rebar, hot-rolled, and cold-rolled steel, reflecting current market conditions [40][41][45]. - Iron ore and coke prices are also monitored, showing fluctuations influenced by supply and demand dynamics [41][47]. 4. Supply and Demand Data Updates - The report highlights the supply and demand metrics for steel, iron ore, and coke, indicating a cautious outlook for procurement and inventory management [62][69]. - The overall market sentiment remains cautious, with procurement primarily driven by immediate needs rather than speculative buying [13][14].

Domestic Developments - The "14th Five-Year Plan" focuses on modern marine industries, with significant fiscal measures boosting domestic demand, as highlighted in a key article published on March 16[8] - The State Council identified six key areas for economic recovery, with early economic data confirming the effectiveness of these decisions, including a 4.5% year-on-year increase in interprovincial trade sales in 2025[11] - Financial regulatory authorities emphasized risk prevention and high-quality development, with four main tasks outlined for the year, including a focus on real estate financing reforms[12] International Developments - Ongoing geopolitical tensions in the Middle East have escalated, with U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iran leading to significant disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, affecting global oil supply[16] - The U.S. Federal Reserve maintained interest rates in the 3.5%-3.75% range, with inflation concerns delaying any potential rate cuts, as February PPI rose 3.4% year-on-year, exceeding expectations[20] - The European Central Bank also kept rates unchanged but indicated readiness to act if inflation risks from the Middle East conflict escalate further[18] Market Data - Brent crude oil prices increased by 13.73% week-on-week, reaching an average of $111.01 per barrel, while iron ore prices rose by 2.25%[24] - Real estate sales saw a significant week-on-week increase of 17.01%, indicating a rebound in the sector[4] - The DXI index for storage DRAM prices rose by 3.33% week-on-week, reflecting upward trends in the midstream sector[33]

Investment Rating - The report provides a "Buy" rating for several key stocks in the steel industry, including Xining Special Steel, Nanjing Steel, Hualing Steel, Baosteel, Jiuli Special Materials, and others [8]. Core Insights - The steel industry is experiencing a recovery in iron water production, with daily average production increasing by 70,000 tons to 2.282 million tons, and steel production continuing to grow, particularly in rebar [12][17]. - Total steel inventory has shifted from an increase to a decrease, with a week-on-week decline of 1.5%, indicating a tightening supply situation [23][25]. - Apparent consumption of five major steel products has improved on a month-on-month basis, with rebar demand showing signs of recovery [37][47]. - Iron ore prices have strengthened, influenced by increased shipments from Australia and Brazil, while port inventories have slightly decreased [46][55]. - The current industry environment is expected to improve due to ongoing "anti-involution" policies, which may lead to a stronger steel price outlook [68]. Summary by Sections Market Review - The CITIC Steel Index closed at 1,919.67 points, down 10.03%, underperforming the CSI 300 Index by 7.84 percentage points, ranking 29th among 30 CITIC primary sectors [1][87]. Supply Analysis - The average capacity utilization rate of 247 domestic steel mills is 85.6%, up 2.7 percentage points week-on-week, while daily average iron water production has increased [17][12]. Inventory Analysis - The total inventory of five major steel products is 14.11 million tons, down 0.9% week-on-week, while steel mill inventories decreased by 3.0% [25][23]. Demand Analysis - Apparent consumption of five major steel products reached 8.685 million tons, up 8.8% week-on-week, with rebar consumption at 2.081 million tons, up 17.7% [47][37]. Raw Material Analysis - The iron ore price index for 62% Fe is at $109.6 per ton, with a week-on-week increase of 0.5% and a year-on-year increase of 4.3% [55][46]. Price and Profit Analysis - The Myspic comprehensive steel price index is at 122.3, with a week-on-week increase of 0.05% and a year-on-year decrease of 2.1% [69][68].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Recommended" rating for the company [3]. Core Insights - In 2025, the company achieved a revenue of 18.233 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 15.43%, while the net profit attributable to shareholders increased by 280.18% to 942 million yuan [1]. - The company is expected to continue its performance recovery, with projected net profits for 2026, 2027, and 2028 being 1.046 billion yuan, 1.142 billion yuan, and 1.238 billion yuan respectively [3]. - The company plans to distribute a cash dividend of 0.2 yuan per share, amounting to 4.53 billion yuan, which represents 48.04% of the net profit attributable to shareholders, indicating a significant increase in the dividend payout ratio compared to 2024 [10]. Financial Performance Summary - **Revenue and Profitability**: - 2025 revenue: 18.233 billion yuan, down 15.4% from 2024 - 2025 net profit: 942 million yuan, up 280.2% from 2024 - 2025 EBITDA: 1.56 billion yuan, with a growth rate of 71.9% [4][11]. - **Future Projections**: - Expected revenues for 2026, 2027, and 2028 are 18.211 billion yuan, 18.574 billion yuan, and 18.938 billion yuan respectively, with growth rates of -0.1%, 2.0%, and 2.0% [4]. - Projected net profits for the same years are 1.046 billion yuan, 1.142 billion yuan, and 1.238 billion yuan, with growth rates of 11.1%, 9.2%, and 8.4% [4]. - **Valuation Metrics**: - Price-to-Earnings (PE) ratios are projected to be 15x for 2025, 13x for 2026, 12x for 2027, and 11x for 2028 [4]. Key Operational Highlights - The company has seen an increase in steel sales, with Q4 2025 sales reaching 1.2185 million tons, a year-on-year increase of 7.47% [10]. - The company is focusing on cost reduction and efficiency improvements through refined management practices, including increased self-generated electricity and optimized raw material usage [10]. - The heavy truck market is recovering, which is expected to support demand for automotive leaf springs and flat steel products [10]. Dividend Policy - The company has significantly increased its dividend payout ratio, with a proposed cash dividend of 0.2 yuan per share, reflecting a commitment to returning value to shareholders [10].