Core Viewpoint - China Resources Beer has become the market leader in the Chinese beer industry with a revenue of 23.942 billion yuan in the first half of 2025, surpassing Budweiser APAC, but faces a stark contrast in performance between its beer and liquor businesses, with the latter experiencing a significant decline of over 30% in revenue [2][6][8]. Group 1: Company Performance - In the first half of 2025, China Resources Beer achieved a total revenue of 23.942 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 0.83%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of 5.789 billion yuan, up 23.04% [6][8]. - The beer segment generated revenue of 23.161 billion yuan, reflecting a growth of 2.6%, with a gross margin increase of 2.5 percentage points to 48.3% [6][8]. - Conversely, the liquor segment reported revenue of 781 million yuan, a decline of 33.7%, with a loss before interest and tax of 152 million yuan, marking the first half-year loss since the consolidation of Jinsha Liquor [6][12]. Group 2: Management Changes - A significant management transition occurred in October 2023, with Jin Hanquan appointed as the new president, following the departure of former chairman Hou Xiaohai [3][4]. - The new leadership, consisting of Chairman Zhao Chunwu and President Jin Hanquan, is expected to navigate the company through its strategic crossroads [4][9]. - Jin Hanquan's background in auditing and supervision suggests a potential shift towards enhanced risk control and cost optimization within the company [9][21]. Group 3: Strategic Challenges - The company is at a strategic crossroads, debating whether to continue investing in the liquor business or refocus on its core beer operations after facing challenges with its "dual empowerment" strategy [2][12]. - The liquor business has not yet become a second growth engine despite significant investments exceeding 10 billion yuan in acquisitions [8][10]. - The "dual empowerment" strategy has not met expectations, with the integration of beer and liquor sales proving to be limited in effectiveness [12][13]. Group 4: Market Competition - The beer industry is experiencing intensified competition, not only from traditional rivals like Tsingtao and Budweiser APAC but also from new entrants, including liquor companies venturing into the beer market [16][18]. - The overall beer production in China has been declining, with a reported production of 35.213 million kiloliters in 2024, down 0.6% year-on-year [19]. - The rise of craft beer is noted as a growing segment, with predictions indicating that craft beer sales will increase from 6.8% in 2020 to 17.2% by 2025 [19][21].

Core Insights - Wuliangye has issued a notice identifying 46 unauthorized stores selling its products, highlighting the issue of counterfeit goods in the market [2][3] - Other liquor companies like Moutai and Xijiu are also taking measures against unauthorized sales, indicating a broader industry trend towards protecting brand integrity [4][6] - The rise of instant retail is seen as a double-edged sword, offering rapid sales growth but also leading to price wars that can harm brand value and profit margins [5][9] Group 1: Company Actions - Wuliangye's notice marks its fourth response to online counterfeit issues since November, now including a list of unauthorized sellers [3] - Xijiu has also published a list of authorized stores and is taking a zero-tolerance approach to counterfeiting, emphasizing the protection of consumer rights [4] - Huaren Beer has temporarily halted sales on instant retail platforms due to price disruptions, indicating the challenges faced by companies in maintaining market stability [5][6] Group 2: Industry Trends - Instant retail is projected to grow significantly, with estimates suggesting a market size of 7.8 trillion yuan in 2024, up over 20% year-on-year [9] - Experts predict that the instant retail market could exceed 20 trillion yuan by 2030, highlighting its potential as a new growth avenue for liquor companies [2] - The competitive landscape is evolving, with major players like Huaren Beer and Guotai Wine forming strategic partnerships with instant retail platforms to enhance their market presence [9][10] Group 3: Challenges and Opportunities - The instant retail sector is characterized by intense competition and price wars, which can lead to reduced profit margins and potential quality issues [5][6] - Companies are urged to adapt to the instant retail model, balancing logistics costs with product pricing to ensure sustainability [5][10] - The future of instant retail is expected to involve a shift from low-price competition to service differentiation and brand positioning [9][10]