煤炭中期策略报告：供需再平衡，政策尤可期

Summary of Coal Industry Conference Call Industry Overview - The coal market currently faces high overall supply, primarily concentrated in Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, Shaanxi, and Xinjiang, with some provinces maintaining high production levels to meet GDP targets despite safety and environmental pressures leading to reductions in certain areas [1][2] Core Insights and Arguments - The coal industry in the second half of the year will rely on policy interventions to address the oversupply issue, with anti-involution policies providing hope for market stabilization. Without such interventions, self-balancing of supply and demand is unlikely [3][4] - Historical experiences indicate that past supply-side reforms, such as those in 2016, significantly boosted coal prices, suggesting that similar policy measures could lead to market recovery [3][9] - To achieve supply-demand balance, a reduction of at least 60 million tons of domestic coal production is necessary in the second half of the year, with specific reductions depending on demand growth rates [3][13] Demand and Supply Dynamics - In the first half of 2025, the coal industry is expected to face excess supply pressure, with supply growth of 6% from January to May and a monthly increase of 4% in May [2] - Demand is anticipated to improve in the second half, particularly for thermal power and chemical coal, although demand from the steel and cement sectors remains weak. Increased thermal power demand is a key driver for potential price increases [6][7] Price and Inventory Trends - Despite high total social inventory levels, there has been a recent decline. Continued high temperatures and increased demand for iron and chemical coal could further reduce inventory, leading to price increases [6][7] - Current coking coal prices are trending upwards due to lower inventory levels [6] Company Performance - Different listed companies exhibit varied production performances. For instance, China Shenhua has seen a decline in production, while companies like China Coal, Shaanxi Coal, and Lu'an have experienced growth. Overall, most companies are still in a growth phase [8] Historical Context - The current situation bears similarities to past periods of overcapacity, particularly the 2014-2015 downturn, followed by a significant recovery post-2016 policy interventions [9][11] Future Outlook and Recommendations - To stabilize coal prices, it is essential to reduce social inventory to a five-year average, targeting a rebound in thermal coal prices to 750 RMB per ton. This requires both a reduction in imports and domestic production [13] - Investment strategies should focus on high-dividend thermal coal companies and those in turnaround situations, such as Jineng Technology and Shaanxi Black Cat, which may offer good returns in the future [14]