Group 1 - The event held on September 15 focused on the online collective reception day for investors and the collective performance briefing for the first half of 2025 in Hebei's listed companies [1] - The chairman of Morning Glory Biological (stock code: 300138), Lu Qingguo, highlighted the trend of replacing synthetic pigments with natural pigments, which presents significant development opportunities for the natural pigment industry and the company [1] - The company has a large scale and diverse range of natural pigment products, including capsanthin, lycopene, and lutein, and possesses advantages in raw materials and extraction technology [1] Group 2 - Morning Glory Biological has made substantial progress in formulation technology, addressing key technical issues such as stability and solubility, which lays a foundation for expanding into broader markets [1]

Group 1 - The U.S. HHS and FDA announced a plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic food colorings, leading to a potential surge in demand for natural colorants [1] - The FDA will establish national standards and a timeline to encourage the industry to transition from synthetic to natural colorants, with a goal to eliminate six major synthetic colorants by the end of 2026 [1] - Sensient Technologies stated that the transition from synthetic to natural colorants represents the largest opportunity in the company's history, with over half of U.S. states initiating legislative activities regarding synthetic colorants [2] Group 2 - Natural colorant usage is expected to increase by 4-12 times compared to synthetic colorants due to lower color concentration in natural options [3] - For example, the demand for sunset yellow in the U.S. is projected to be around 2,500 tons in 2025, which would require at least an additional 10,000 tons of natural colorants if replaced [3] - The market for replacing synthetic colorants with natural alternatives is significant, particularly for colors like temptation red, sunset yellow, and lemon yellow, with various natural substitutes available [3]

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "A" rating for the natural colorant industry, indicating it is expected to outperform the market significantly [3][10]. Core Insights - The FDA's plan to phase out petroleum-based synthetic colorants in the U.S. is anticipated to lead to a surge in demand for natural colorants, benefiting domestic companies in this sector [3][5]. - The transition from synthetic to natural colorants is seen as a major opportunity for companies like Sensient Technologies, with over half of U.S. states already taking legislative action against synthetic colorants [5][6]. - The report highlights that the usage of natural colorants will increase by 4-12 times compared to synthetic colorants due to lower color concentration, leading to a significant rise in demand [6]. Summary by Sections Market Overview - The FDA and HHS announced measures to eliminate synthetic colorants by the end of 2026, establishing national standards and encouraging voluntary transitions to natural alternatives [3][5]. Industry Trends - The report notes that the penetration rate of natural colorants is over 80% in Europe, around 30% in the U.S., and approximately 25-30% in Latin America, indicating substantial room for growth in the U.S. and China [5][6]. Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on companies like Chenguang Biotech, which leads in the plant extraction industry and has a strong portfolio of natural colorants [6].

Core Viewpoint - The natural pigment safflower yellow has significant applications in food, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals, with a growing market size in China expected to reach 830 million yuan in 2024, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 23.88% [1][11]. Group 1: Industry Overview - Safflower yellow is a natural yellow pigment extracted from safflower petals, recognized for its safety and stability compared to synthetic dyes, aligning with modern consumer preferences for health and environmental sustainability [1][11]. - The pigment exhibits various pharmacological functions, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, which may aid in treating cardiovascular and inflammatory diseases [1][3]. - The extraction methods for safflower yellow include water extraction, organic solvent precipitation, and enzyme extraction, with the latter two methods yielding higher purity products [3][5]. Group 2: Industry Chain - The safflower yellow industry chain consists of three segments: upstream (safflower cultivation and supply of auxiliary materials), midstream (production and manufacturing of safflower yellow), and downstream (applications in pharmaceuticals, food, textiles, and cosmetics) [5]. Group 3: Market Demand and Trends - The demand for safflower yellow is expected to grow due to increasing consumer awareness of food safety and health, with applications expanding in food, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics [18]. - Technological innovations in extraction methods and production processes are enhancing efficiency and reducing costs, contributing to the industry's growth [19][20]. - The competitive landscape is diversifying, with both domestic and international players vying for market share, necessitating continuous investment in research and development [21]. Group 4: Key Companies - Notable companies in the safflower yellow industry include Morning Light Bio-Technology Group, Yunnan Tonghai Yang's Natural Products Co., and Henan Zhongda Hengyuan Biotechnology Co., among others, which are primarily located in Hebei, Henan, Yunnan, and Hubei [2][13][14].