Core Viewpoint - The January PMI shows a decline of 0.8 points, primarily driven by seasonal factors and a significant drop in consumer goods and high-energy industries, indicating a divergence between new and old economies [1][5][23]. Industry Analysis - **Consumer Goods**: The automotive sector, electrical machinery (including home appliances), agricultural products, chemical fibers, and textiles have all weakened. Passenger car retail sales from January 1-18 fell by 37% compared to the previous month, influenced by the expiration of tax exemptions and reduced subsidies [2][10]. - **High-Energy Industries**: The petrochemical and chemical sectors experienced a decline, with Brent crude oil prices rising from $61 per barrel at the end of 2025 to $71 per barrel by the end of January, potentially constraining downstream production [2][10]. - **Metals**: Non-ferrous and ferrous industries saw increases of 4.0 and 2.0 points, respectively, driven by global pricing expectations and pre-season stockpiling [2][10]. - **High-End Manufacturing**: Sectors such as computer communication electronics and specialized equipment improved, with increases of 6.9 and 4.7 points, respectively, driven by surging AI demand and price hikes from chip manufacturers [2][10]. Economic Divergence - The January data indicates a widening gap between new and old economies, with high-tech manufacturing and upstream raw materials showing strong performance, while consumer manufacturing and the petrochemical industry faced significant seasonal declines [5][23]. Construction Industry - The construction sector saw a significant decline of 4.0 points to 48.8, exceeding seasonal expectations. The drop was attributed to low temperatures and the upcoming Spring Festival, with residential construction declining by 3.0 points [4][16][17]. Service Industry - The service sector experienced a slight decrease of 0.2 points to 49.5, remaining in a contraction zone for three consecutive months. Financial services maintained high activity levels, while transportation and information services saw declines [21][22]. Summary - Overall, January's economic structure reflects the ongoing divergence between new and old industries, with highlights in high-tech manufacturing and upstream materials. The significant seasonal drop in consumer goods, petrochemicals, and construction sectors may explain the persistence of last year's asset trends [5][23].

Core Viewpoint - Since 2021, the chemical and petrochemical industries have seen increased capital expenditures due to high prices of chemical products, initiating a new round of capacity expansion [1] Group 1: Industry Trends - From 2022 onwards, the release of new capacities, combined with a decline in crude oil prices, has led to a continuous drop in the prices of most chemical products [1] - Domestic companies have adopted a strategy of price competition to gain market share, resulting in an overall decline in profitability [1] Group 2: Future Outlook - As of 2024, most chemical product prices are stabilizing at the bottom, and corporate profitability remains under pressure [1] - With the introduction of subsequent growth stabilization plans, it is anticipated that some outdated capacities may be eliminated, leading to a marginal improvement in the overall supply-demand structure of the industry and an increase in product profitability [1]