Core Insights - The trust industry is experiencing intense price competition, leading to a situation where companies are engaging in low-cost bidding to attract clients, which is unsustainable in the long term [2][3][4] - The industry is facing a significant decline in profits despite an increase in revenue, indicating a troubling trend for future growth [5][6] - There is a call for trust companies to enhance their active management capabilities and differentiate themselves to escape the cycle of low-price competition [9][10] Industry Challenges - Many trust companies have focused on non-standard business models over the past decade, resulting in a lack of standardized and efficient operational frameworks, which weakens their bargaining power [6][7] - The introduction of new business models, such as asset securitization and family trusts, has led to fierce competition, with companies often resorting to low pricing to gain market share [4][7] - The current pricing strategies are causing a downward trend in service fees, impacting overall profitability and leading to a vicious cycle of reduced service capabilities [7][8] Financial Performance - In 2024, the trust industry reported operating income of 94.036 billion yuan, an increase of 8.89% from 2023, while profits fell to 23.087 billion yuan, a decrease of 45.52% [5] - The decline in profits is attributed to the low-fee structure of asset service trusts, which is affecting the overall profitability of the industry [5][6] Recommendations for Improvement - Trust companies are advised to focus on enhancing their active management capabilities and developing unique advantages to break free from low-price competition [9][10] - There is a suggestion to establish self-regulatory mechanisms within the industry to promote healthy competition and set standard pricing guidelines [10]