Summary of Conference Call on Waterproof Industry Price Increase Industry Overview - The waterproof industry is experiencing a significant price increase due to a challenging market environment in 2024, primarily influenced by a downturn in the real estate sector and a subsequent decline in demand for renovation and construction materials [1][2][4]. Key Points and Arguments - **Price War Impact**: In 2024, the industry faced a price war that led to three rounds of price reductions (15%-20%), which did not improve sales or market share but diluted profits [1][2]. - **Price Increase Implementation**: Starting mid-June 2025, companies began to implement price increases across various product categories: waterproof materials (3%-8%), mortar products (5%-7%), and sealants (8%-10%), with an overall increase of approximately 6%-7% [1][2]. - **Sales and Profit Goals**: The price increase aims to improve unsatisfactory sales progress and profit margins from the first half of 2025. Companies hope to encourage distributors to increase inventory and meet sales targets [1][2][7]. - **Market Stability and Volatility**: Current market prices are relatively stable, but fluctuations may occur during late July to early August when distributors purchase in bulk, making this a critical period for assessing the effectiveness of the price increase [1][8]. - **Profit Margin Expectations**: If the price increase is successful, company-level profits are expected to rise by 4-5 percentage points. Some companies are also reducing costs through layoffs and cutting unnecessary expenses [1][10]. - **Distributor Contract Adjustments**: Major companies are adjusting distributor contracts to lower sales targets, helping distributors maintain profit margins amid market challenges [1][11]. Additional Important Insights - **Regional Demand Decline**: The Southwest region has seen a more than 30% reduction in demand for construction materials since 2023, with new projects decreasing significantly [2][16]. - **Market Share Variability**: Companies like Dekor and Rain Rainbow have varying market shares in the Southwest, with Dekor holding about 12%-13% and Rain Rainbow around 10% [22]. - **Future Trends**: The trend of rural self-built housing is expected to continue, particularly in regions like Yunnan and Guizhou, driven by local cultural factors and government policies [20][21]. - **Profitability Focus Shift**: There is a potential shift in performance evaluation from sales volume to profit margins, which may lead to changes in operational strategies, including cost-cutting measures [29][30]. This summary encapsulates the key discussions and insights from the conference call regarding the waterproof industry's current state and future outlook.