Core Viewpoint - The steel sector is positioned for a strong recovery due to favorable conditions such as PPI at a cyclical low, ample market liquidity, and an improved risk premium, indicating significant medium to long-term investment opportunities in quality steel companies [1] Supply Side - The steel industry is experiencing a dual decline in supply and demand, with structural optimization and marginal profit improvement [2] - Total supply is contracting with a weak growth trend in capital expenditure, expected to enter negative growth by 2025 due to multiple factors including "anti-involution" policies and a downturn in the real estate sector [2] - From January to October, China's crude steel production reached 820 million tons, a year-on-year decrease of 3.9%, with a notable decline in monthly production [2] - There is a significant structural differentiation in production, with high-end manufacturing steel products like cold-rolled sheets and seamless pipes showing growth, while construction steel rebar production has declined by approximately 1.2% [2] Demand Side - Domestic demand continues to shrink, with a 6.4% year-on-year decline in crude steel demand for January to October 2025, totaling 710 million tons [3] - Traditional steel demand from real estate and infrastructure remains weak, with new construction areas and ongoing construction areas in real estate dropping significantly [3] - Despite high net financing from local government special bonds, the impact on steel consumption has weakened, making exports a crucial support for the steel industry [3] - Steel exports reached 97.74 million tons from January to October, a 6.4% increase year-on-year, with expectations to exceed 110 million tons for the year, effectively offsetting domestic demand decline [3] Profitability - The profit distribution pattern in the coal-coke-steel supply chain has led to a noticeable improvement in the steel industry's profitability [4] - The industry is gradually recovering from low levels since 2022, with gross profit margins rising to 6.4% in Q3 2025, at the 45th percentile level since 2012 [4] - From January to October 2025, profits for large-scale industrial enterprises in the black metal smelting and rolling processing industry reached 105.3 billion yuan, showing significant growth compared to the same period in 2024 [4] Policy and Price Dynamics - The steel industry is a key focus of "anti-involution" policies, which aim to guide steel prices to a reasonable range, essential for achieving positive PPI [5] - Steel prices significantly influence the PPI, with the steel sector accounting for approximately 5.9% of PPI, and its price fluctuations typically exceeding those of most industries [5] - As of November 11, 2025, the steel price index is around 3,500 yuan/ton, reflecting a return to historical low levels, with current prices at 3,415 yuan/ton indicating weak industry conditions [5] Future Outlook - The steel PPI is expected to turn positive by the second quarter of 2026, supported by seasonal trends and anticipated price recoveries in Q4 2025 [6] - The transition of PPI from negative to positive is a critical indicator of industrial economic recovery and presents an important investment window [7] - Historical data shows that prior PPI recovery phases have led to significant increases in steel sector valuations, particularly for small to mid-cap companies with strong growth potential [7] Investment Recommendations - Focus on regional leading companies with advanced equipment and environmental standards such as Hualing Steel, Shougang, and Shandong Steel [8] - Consider companies with excellent growth potential and restructuring capabilities like Baosteel and Nanjing Steel [8] - Target high-quality special steel enterprises benefiting from the new energy cycle [8] - Invest in upstream raw material suppliers with competitive advantages [8]

Core Insights - The steel industry is experiencing a dual decline in supply and demand, with structural optimization and marginal profit improvement. Supply side: total contraction and structural differentiation, with capital expenditure continuing to show weak growth. The steel industry's capital expenditure has been slowing for four consecutive years, entering negative growth in 2025 due to multiple factors including "anti-involution" policies, a downturn in the real estate sector, and limited infrastructure support [2][10] - The domestic crude steel consumption has decreased significantly, with a 6.4% year-on-year decline in demand from January to October 2025, amounting to 710 million tons. The demand in traditional steel usage areas remains weak, particularly in real estate and infrastructure [2][32] - Exports have become a crucial support for the steel industry, with steel exports reaching 97.74 million tons from January to October 2025, a 6.4% increase year-on-year. The total annual export volume is expected to exceed 110 million tons, effectively offsetting the pressure from declining domestic demand [2][48] Group 1: Marginal Improvement in the Steel Industry - The average steel price has continued to decline, with the comprehensive price index for ordinary steel dropping to 3,447 yuan/ton as of November 24, 2025, down approximately 200 yuan from the year's peak [10][60] - The profit margin of the steel industry has shown significant improvement, with the gross profit margin reaching 6.4% in Q3 2025, marking a recovery from the low levels seen since 2022 [13][15] - The proportion of loss-making enterprises in the steel industry has slightly decreased but remains high at 37.18%, indicating ongoing challenges within the industry [17] Group 2: PPI Turnaround Expectations - The Producer Price Index (PPI) for the steel industry is expected to turn positive by Q2 2026, driven by improvements in supply structure and demand dynamics [53][60] - Historical data shows that the steel industry plays a significant role in PPI fluctuations, with past PPI turnarounds in 2016 and 2021 coinciding with significant steel industry performance [54][60] - The steel industry accounts for approximately 5.9% of the PPI, making its price movements critical for overall industrial price trends [53][54] Group 3: Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on high-efficiency, low-emission regional leading enterprises such as Hualing Steel, Shougang, and Shandong Steel, as well as companies with strong growth potential like Baosteel and Nanjing Steel [4][60] - The steel sector is viewed as having strong "anti-involution" attributes and significant profit recovery potential, making it a strategic investment opportunity for the medium to long term [4][60] - The report emphasizes the importance of monitoring the performance of small and medium-sized steel companies, particularly those with strong earnings growth and valuation appeal [4][60]