Core Viewpoint - The increasing geopolitical conflicts, differentiated economic recovery, and rising protectionism have led to significant volatility in commodity prices, creating unprecedented uncertainty for businesses. In this context, the futures market is becoming a crucial anchor for companies to stabilize costs and manage operational expectations [1][2]. Group 1: Futures Market Functions - The futures market provides three core functions: price discovery, risk management, and resource allocation, which help businesses cope with uncertainty by transforming unpredictable absolute price risks into relatively controllable basis risks or cost-defined business models [2][3]. - A case study involving a large state-owned cable company illustrates how customized solutions, such as a "floating quantity, fixed price" copper trading scheme, can stabilize production costs and enhance operational predictability amid market fluctuations [2][4]. Group 2: Challenges in Risk Management - Companies face significant challenges in utilizing futures tools for risk hedging, including mismatched price structures where some agricultural products exhibit a "spot premium, futures discount" scenario, leading to potential losses for producers [3][5]. - The lack of professional teams and the inability to grasp hedging opportunities further complicate the situation, as standardized futures contracts often do not meet the specific needs of businesses regarding quality, delivery location, and procurement timing [3][5]. Group 3: Service Model and Solutions - Hongyuan Futures has developed a service model centered on "standardized systems + professional manuals + scenario-based implementation," facilitating the transition from risk avoidance to risk management for enterprises [4][6]. - The company has successfully implemented full-process services, such as "options + delivery" for ethylene glycol and "circuit breaker cumulative put options" for cotton, demonstrating effective risk mitigation strategies [4][6]. Group 4: Market Adaptation and Recommendations - There are three main areas where the futures market needs to improve its adaptability to better serve the real economy: 1. Addressing the gap between available futures products and actual business needs, particularly in emerging sectors like renewable energy [5][6]. 2. Enhancing the market ecosystem to increase participation from industrial clients and improve the integration of futures and spot markets [5][6]. 3. Transitioning futures companies to become "risk management intermediaries" by investing in research and talent to better meet the diverse needs of businesses [6][7]. Group 5: Education and Perception - Many companies still perceive the futures market as high-risk due to misunderstandings about trading mechanisms, the amplification of negative speculative cases, and insufficient investor education [6][7]. - Hongyuan Futures is addressing these issues by enhancing educational initiatives, focusing on positive case studies, and improving the understanding of risk management value in futures trading [7].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint highlights the increasing demand for asphalt in infrastructure projects, driven by China's "14th Five-Year Plan," which aims for over 5.5 million kilometers of roads and 190,000 kilometers of highways by 2025, making asphalt a critical raw material in the construction sector [1] - Asphalt terminal companies face significant pressure due to the volatility of raw material prices and the need for effective risk management systems to ensure sustainable development [1] - Traditional procurement methods, such as direct purchasing from refineries and stockpiling, are becoming less effective in managing market fluctuations [1] Group 2 - Yong'an Futures established a specialized service team to assess the production operations of asphalt terminal companies in Shandong and Shanxi, creating tailored risk management solutions that incorporate options tools to balance risk management, cost optimization, and capital efficiency [2] - In March 2024, an asphalt terminal company in Shandong prepared for demand by locking in procurement costs below 3,651 yuan/ton using a combination of futures and options, resulting in a total purchase of 2,850 tons [2] - The company received a compensation of 142,500 yuan after the option expired, demonstrating the effectiveness of using futures to stabilize procurement costs [3] Group 3 - A different asphalt terminal company in Shanxi utilized a "circuit breaker cumulative selling option" to manage inventory value amid high prices and low construction demand, resulting in a profit of 239,800 yuan from the option strategy [4] - The use of customized options allows companies to address various risk scenarios, enhancing their risk management strategies and improving profitability [4][5] - The application of off-exchange options in the asphalt industry represents an innovative approach to risk management, providing practical case studies for other entities in the asphalt supply chain [5]