Core Viewpoint - The konjac snack industry is gaining popularity among consumers due to its crispy texture and low-calorie, healthy characteristics, indicating a broad future potential for the konjac category [1]. Group 1: Konjac Industry Chain - The demand side shows that konjac is widely used in food, healthcare, industrial, and agricultural fields, with the primary application in food, including snacks, meal replacements, and fresh ingredients. The konjac snack market is projected to reach approximately 172-192 billion yuan by 2024 [3][11]. - On the supply side, the planting area for konjac has been limited and has faced challenges, leading to a decline in planting area for four consecutive years since 2020. The planting area is expected to decrease to 178 million mu in 2024, with a projected 20% reduction in fresh konjac yield due to drought conditions [3][14][19]. Group 2: Industry Barriers and Outlook - The konjac industry faces barriers such as limited planting technology and low barriers in the processing sector. The downstream application space remains large, with significant growth potential in the konjac snack market [4][25]. - The konjac snack segment is considered a promising market due to its health attributes and strong flavor absorption capabilities. The market for konjac snacks is expected to surpass traditional spicy strips, with leading brands like WeLong and YanJinPuZi establishing a strong market presence [4][34]. Group 3: Market Dynamics and Future Trends - The konjac snack market is projected to grow significantly, with WeLong's konjac products expected to generate over 30 billion yuan in sales by 2024, indicating a strong market position [11][34]. - The konjac jelly market is also anticipated to expand, with a projected market size of approximately 47 billion yuan in 2024, driven by consumer demand for innovative and healthy products [12][39]. - The konjac industry is still in its early development stage in China, with significant room for growth compared to Japan, where per capita consumption has declined. The potential for increased per capita consumption in China is expected to rise as the industry matures [27][28].

Summary of the Conference Call on Konjac Industry Industry Overview - The konjac industry encompasses cultivation, initial processing, refined powder processing, and downstream applications, primarily in the food sector, including ready-to-eat snacks, konjac jelly, and vegetarian noodles. The total market size is estimated to be between 17.2 billion to 19.2 billion yuan [1][3] - The domestic konjac planting area has been declining since 2020 due to the pandemic, raw material backlog, and price fluctuations. Drought in 2024 is expected to further reduce production. A slight increase in planting area is anticipated in 2025, but challenges remain in yield recovery [1][5] Key Insights - The main variety cultivated in China is the flower konjac, accounting for over 90% of the total. White konjac is harder to cultivate, while yellow konjac relies on imports [1][6] - The growth cycle of konjac is five years, with farmers adjusting harvest times based on market conditions, which affects subsequent yields. Strict pest control and crop rotation increase cultivation difficulty [1][7] - Since 2021, imports of yellow konjac powder from Indonesia have surged, indicating significant international trade influence on domestic market prices [1][8] Market Potential - The konjac food industry has vast development potential, with expectations of becoming a trillion-yuan market. The ratio of fresh konjac to dried slices to refined powder is 13:2:1, indicating significant processing potential [2] - The ready-to-eat snack segment is projected to generate over 3 billion yuan in sales in 2024, with a terminal sales value of approximately 6 billion yuan, driven by high absorption and expansion properties of konjac powder [2][3] - The overall market for konjac snacks is estimated at 8-10 billion yuan, with a strong growth trajectory anticipated [2] Competitive Landscape - Leading companies in the konjac sector include Weilong, which is expected to maintain rapid growth with a sales forecast exceeding 3 billion yuan in 2024, and Yanjinpuzi, which has achieved over 1 billion yuan in sales through innovative products [2][16][17] - The ready-to-eat snack market is highly profitable, with a market size of approximately 8 billion yuan and a high gross margin due to low production costs [3][12] Challenges and Opportunities - The konjac industry faces technical barriers, particularly in breeding and pest control, which need to be addressed to enhance production [9] - The potential for per capita consumption in China to exceed that of Japan is significant, as Chinese applications of konjac are more diverse compared to Japan's traditional uses [10] - The konjac snack segment is favored due to its health benefits, low calorie content, and flavor versatility, appealing to a broader consumer base compared to traditional snacks like spicy strips [11][13] Future Outlook - The konjac jelly segment has revitalized the jelly market, with rapid growth expected in the coming years [15] - Companies like Yizhi Konjac are exploring downstream processing to expand their market presence, with a focus on food and beauty products showing strong growth [18] - The overall konjac industry is projected to continue its rapid growth, potentially becoming a significant emerging industry in the coming years [3][4]

Core Insights - The konjac industry is experiencing significant growth, reshaping the snack food sector as consumer health awareness increases [1][2] - Major snack companies are investing heavily in konjac products, diversifying their offerings beyond traditional spicy snacks to include meal replacements and beverages [1][3] - Despite its growing popularity, the supply of konjac remains unstable, with production concentrated in specific regions of China [1][5] Industry Overview - The konjac market has seen a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26% over the past decade, with the market size expected to expand significantly [7][13] - The total market size for konjac products is estimated at 26.9 billion yuan, with the snack segment alone accounting for 18.3 billion yuan [11] - The demand for konjac products is projected to continue rising, driven by health trends and consumer preferences for low-calorie, high-fiber foods [13] Company Developments - Weitong reported a revenue of 6.266 billion yuan in 2024, with a 28.6% year-on-year increase, largely driven by its konjac product line [2] - Salted Fish initiated a "new Chinese snack" strategy, launching the "Big Demon King" brand to capitalize on the konjac trend, with sales growing from 117 million yuan in 2021 to 838 million yuan in 2024 [3] - Companies like Weitong and Salted Fish are expanding their production capabilities and supply chains to meet the increasing demand for konjac products [10][12] Supply Chain Dynamics - The supply of konjac is currently insufficient to meet demand, leading to price volatility; prices for konjac have doubled from 2 yuan per jin in 2023 to 4 yuan per jin in 2024 [8][9] - The domestic konjac production is unable to satisfy the current market needs, prompting companies to source from international suppliers [9][10] - The industry is witnessing a trend towards vertical integration, with companies establishing processing facilities in key production areas to secure raw materials [10][12] Future Trends - The konjac product category is expected to diversify further, with increased industry concentration as more companies enter the market [11][13] - Government support through subsidies and research initiatives is anticipated to bolster the konjac industry, enhancing its status as a key agricultural product [13] - The growing consumer acceptance of konjac products is reflected in rising repurchase rates and average spending on these items [13]