Company and Industry Summary Company Overview - The company primarily exports products and is positioned in the customized mid-to-high-end market, which makes it less affected by domestic price competition [2][8] - A 20% tariff is borne by customers, thus having no direct impact on the company's operating performance [2][4] Capacity Expansion Plans - The company plans to add 20,000 tons of capacity in 2025, with completion expected by the end of the year, and partial production starting in 2026 [2][5] - A project in Thailand with a capacity of 49,000 tons is expected to be completed by the end of 2026 and to start production in 2027 [2][5][28] Market Dynamics - The acceptance of functional sugars in the European and American markets is high, particularly for mid-to-high-end products, although certification is strict [2][9] - The Chinese market focuses on cost-effectiveness but is gradually transitioning to high-end products, with a potential lag of 3-5 years compared to Europe and the U.S. [2][9][30] Product Insights - Allulose, a health sweetener, is in the early stages of global market acceptance and has not yet been approved in China, but domestic manufacturers are already incorporating it into their products [2][10] - The current average selling price of allulose is around 25,000 yuan, with a cost reduction of about 10% [2][13] - The market demand for allulose is expected to be no less than that for erythritol, indicating significant potential [2][13] Growth Projections - The resistant dextrin market is growing steadily, with the company achieving over 50% annual growth, limited by capacity [2][15] - The expected production of resistant dextrin in 2024 is projected to be 10,000 to 20,000 tons, doubling from 2023 [2][15] Financial Performance - The company's overall performance in Q2 2025 is expected to be better than Q1, despite a temporary export halt due to tariff policies [3][18] - The gross margin for allulose improved from 24% to 34% in Q1, while resistant dextrin margins range from 50% to 60% for customized products [20] Market Trends and Challenges - The domestic functional sugar market is experiencing slow growth due to consumer acceptance and regulatory approval delays [30] - The company is focusing on international markets for growth, particularly in the U.S., EU, and Japan, where there is significant potential for allulose and resistant dextrin [29][30] Future Outlook - The company maintains an optimistic outlook for Q2 2025 and the full year, expecting to meet performance targets set by the chairman [32] - Investors should pay attention to the approval status of allulose and other products, as national policies support the development of natural health foods and beverages [32]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Outperform the Market" [4][11][28] Core Views - The company achieved a net profit attributable to shareholders of 246 million yuan in 2024, representing a year-on-year growth of 27%. In the first quarter of 2025, the net profit reached 81.4 million yuan, up 52% year-on-year [1][13] - The company’s revenue for 2024 was 1.152 billion yuan, a 32.64% increase compared to the previous year. In Q1 2025, revenue was 313 million yuan, growing 24.27% year-on-year [1][13] - The company is experiencing rapid growth in its dietary fiber and health sweetener segments, particularly with the increasing demand for resistant dextrin and polydextrose in the food and beverage industry [2][21] - The company is actively expanding its production capacity through projects such as the "Functional Sugar Drying Expansion Project" and the "Thailand Health Project," which are expected to enhance profitability in the future [3][26] Financial Performance Summary - In 2024, the company’s gross profit margin was 33.65%, an increase of 0.92 percentage points year-on-year, while the net profit margin was 21.33%, a decrease of 0.90 percentage points [1][13] - For Q1 2025, the gross profit margin improved to 39.74%, up 5.99 percentage points year-on-year, and the net profit margin increased to 25.99%, up 4.75 percentage points year-on-year [1][13] - The company’s revenue projections for 2025-2027 are 1.526 billion yuan, 1.829 billion yuan, and 2.140 billion yuan, respectively, with net profits expected to be 346 million yuan, 431 million yuan, and 503 million yuan [12][28] Business Segments Summary - The company’s main business segments include prebiotics, dietary fibers, health sweeteners, and other starch sugars. In 2024, the prebiotic segment generated 322 million yuan in revenue, a 25.43% increase, while the dietary fiber segment saw revenue of 624 million yuan, up 40.42% [2][21] - The health sweetener segment generated 156 million yuan in revenue, a 13.85% increase, with the contribution of allulose rising to 14.12% of total revenue, marking it as a significant source of income [2][21] - In Q1 2025, the prebiotic segment revenue was 85.8 million yuan, up 17.27%, while the dietary fiber segment revenue was 170 million yuan, up 25.40%. The allulose segment revenue surged to 49.8 million yuan, a remarkable increase of 105.31% [2][21] Future Growth Drivers - The company is investing in a new production base in Thailand, which is expected to enhance its brand, technology development, and market expansion capabilities, ultimately improving profitability and competitiveness [4][26] - The ongoing approval process for allulose in China and the steady growth of the overseas market are anticipated to further boost the company’s revenue and market presence [9][27]

Core Viewpoint - The company is focusing on high-value core products such as prebiotics, dietary fibers, and sugar-reducing sweeteners, which are expected to drive future growth and profitability [2][3][4]. Product Focus - The company's core products include prebiotics (oligomaltose, fructooligosaccharides, galactooligosaccharides), dietary fibers (polydextrose, resistant dextrin), and sugar-reducing sweeteners (erythritol, crystalline fructose, allulose) [2]. Gross Margin Improvement - The gross margin for the company's core products increased from 9.74% in 2023 to 15.84% in 2024, driven by optimized product structure, reduced consumption, and lower procurement costs [3][4]. - The gross margins for individual core products are as follows: prebiotics increased from 19.34% to 24.60%, dietary fibers from 12.64% to 18.12%, and sugar-reducing sweeteners from 1.26% to 9.09% [4]. Production Strategy - The company is implementing a "small, refined, and flexible" production model to cater to differentiated market demands, focusing on high-value, small-batch orders [6]. - The flexible production plan aims to enhance responsiveness to market needs and build competitive advantages through customized products [6]. New Product Development - The company is expanding its product line with high-value products such as DHA algae oil, lactulose, and HMOs, with production capacity already established for these new products [8]. - Strategic partnerships have been formed to ensure sales of new products, with ongoing projects in trial production stages [8]. Market Impact of Tariffs - Following the EU's imposition of anti-dumping duties on erythritol, the company has capitalized on being the lowest taxed entity, resulting in a 123% year-on-year increase in erythritol sales revenue in Q1 2025 [8]. Capacity Expansion - The company has been a pioneer in the domestic allulose market, with a production capacity exceeding 5,000 tons set to be expanded to 20,000 tons in the future [9]. Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, the company reported a revenue of 685 million yuan, a 24.23% increase year-on-year, and a net profit of 50.36 million yuan, up 117.35% year-on-year [10].