Overall Inventory Cycle - In May, the total inventory in the U.S. increased by 2.62% year-on-year, down from 3.15% in the previous period[12] - Sales in May rose by 3.30% year-on-year, compared to 3.68% previously[12] - The U.S. is confirmed to be entering an active destocking phase, with a significant import surge occurring from November 2024 to March 2025[12] - A brief replenishment demand is expected in June and July, after which active destocking will continue[12] Industry Inventory Cycle - Six out of fourteen major industries are in active destocking as of May, including oil, gas, chemicals, transportation, automotive parts, textiles, and food[19] - The historical percentile for overall inventory in May is 32.4%, with construction materials at 83.6% and chemicals at 69.3%[19] - The first round of excess imports is estimated at $180 billion and the second at $100 billion, totaling $280 billion, which may be exhausted by November[12] - Recent rapid declines in copper prices are attributed to a 50% tariff on copper products while exempting raw materials, disrupting supply and demand dynamics[13] Risk Factors - The potential for U.S. economic fundamentals and policies to exceed expectations poses a risk to inventory and pricing stability[8]

Overall Inventory Cycle - In April, the total inventory in the U.S. increased by 3.37% year-on-year, compared to a previous value of 3.43%[1] - The total sales in April rose by 3.74% year-on-year, down from 4.04% previously[1] - The data indicates a preliminary shift towards active destocking in the U.S. inventory cycle[1] Industry Inventory Cycle - Among 14 major industries in April, 10 were in passive restocking, including construction materials, metals, and consumer goods[12] - The historical percentile for overall inventory in April was 39.2%, with chemical products at 85.7% and construction materials at 83.2%[12] - Oil and chemical sectors are likely transitioning to active destocking, while construction and metal inventories remain high[12] Future Outlook - Despite uncertainties regarding tariffs, the U.S. inventory cycle is expected to lean towards active destocking in Q2 due to previous overstocking[1] - The "panic import" demand has extended the passive restocking cycle for downstream industries[14] - Active destocking is anticipated for automotive and automotive parts as of December 2024, with a continued trend into April 2025[14]

Core Viewpoint - Unified Corporation has achieved a significant upgrade in its ESG rating from BBB to AAA, ranking first among 53 companies in the oil, gas, and consumer fuel sector, reflecting its leadership in sustainability and effective strategic implementation [2] Group 1: ESG Achievements - The company has integrated ESG principles deeply into its operations, becoming one of the first in China to obtain dual certifications for ISO14064 and ISO14067, and has set a clear carbon reduction roadmap: peak carbon emissions by 2021, halve emissions by 2030, and achieve carbon neutrality by 2040 [3] - All facilities of the company have achieved 100% compliance in emissions of waste gas, wastewater, and solid waste, with greenhouse gas emissions per unit revenue reduced to 1.27 tons per million yuan, which is 62% lower than the industry average [3] - The company has innovatively adopted waste oil re-refining technology, significantly reducing resource consumption and emissions compared to crude oil production, achieving a 34-fold reduction in resource consumption and a 2-3 times reduction in greenhouse gas emissions [3] Group 2: Community Engagement and Social Responsibility - The company actively participates in community development initiatives, such as environmental activities and providing solar street lights to improve local infrastructure, contributing nearly 70,000 yuan [4] - It has organized various training and support programs for local farmers, enhancing their agricultural practices and economic outcomes, with over 200 farmers benefiting from these initiatives [4] - The company has also established a volunteer service team to support public welfare, including donations to underprivileged families [5] Group 3: Governance and Future Outlook - Unified Corporation incorporates sustainable principles into its management practices, ensuring transparency and protecting stakeholder rights, achieving excellent results in anti-corruption, auditing, and fair competition [5] - Looking ahead, the company aims to continue adhering to AAA standards, driving technological innovation and management optimization to contribute to the industry's green transformation and achieve a balance between economic benefits and social value [5]

Core Viewpoint - The overall inventory cycle in the U.S. is likely transitioning towards an active destocking phase by 2025, with significant implications for various industries [1][2][3]. Overall Inventory Cycle - In February, U.S. total inventory increased by 2.45% year-on-year, compared to a previous value of 2.25%. Sales increased by 3.45% year-on-year, down from 3.69% [2][3]. - The inventory cycle remains in a passive restocking phase due to "import grabbing," with Q1 net imports increasing by $359.26 billion year-on-year, of which over one-third ($129.71 billion) converted into inventory [2][3]. Industry Inventory Cycle - Among 14 major industry categories, 8 are in a passive restocking phase, including upstream chemical products, building materials, midstream electrical equipment, and downstream durable consumer goods [4]. - Historical inventory percentiles show that total inventory is at a historical percentile of 30.5%, with building materials at 71.5%, automotive parts at 67.8%, and paper and forestry products at 53.8% [4]. Upstream Inventory Status - Half of the upstream industries are in passive restocking, while the other half are in active destocking [5][6][7][8]. - Specific sectors like oil, natural gas, and consumer fuels are in active destocking as of February 2025 [5]. Midstream Inventory Status - Inventory status is mixed, with paper and forestry products in active restocking, while electrical equipment and transportation are in passive restocking [9][10]. - Mechanical manufacturing is currently in passive destocking [9]. Downstream Inventory Status - The current passive restocking phase is prolonged, indicating potential "import grabbing" demand [11]. - Automotive parts are transitioning to active destocking as of February 2025, while other sectors like household durable goods and textiles remain in passive restocking [11].