2025-08-25 01:39Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call on China's Express Delivery Industry Industry Overview - The conference call focused on the express delivery industry in China, specifically discussing the impact of "anti-involution" policies on pricing and profitability within the sector [3][4]. Core Insights 1. Price Increases in Key Regions - Express delivery prices have risen in key regions, with Yiwu seeing an increase of RMB0.1 per parcel in July 2025. The current price for a 0.1 kg parcel is above RMB1.2. In Guangdong, prices for 0.1 kg parcels have risen to RMB1.45-1.55, with regular parcels increasing by RMB0.2-0.3 and discount parcels by approximately RMB0.6 [3]. 2. Impact of Anti-Involution Policies - The implementation of anti-involution policies has led to stronger price hikes in Guangdong, a key region for express delivery. However, many franchisees may still be operating at a loss due to high operating costs [3]. 3. New Social Security Regulations - New regulations effective from September 1, 2025, mandate that employers cannot opt out of social security payments, which will increase costs for express delivery companies by more than RMB0.1 per parcel. This is expected to further support price hikes in the industry [4]. 4. Rising Delivery Costs - The expert noted that the mandatory social insurance expenses and long-standing price competition have suppressed delivery fees, affecting couriers' income. The trend of rising delivery fees is also observed in Eastern and Northern China [4]. 5. Profitability Concerns - Despite price increases, the expert expressed concerns that the express delivery industry chain may struggle to maintain profitability due to increased mandatory costs. If these costs are passed on to consumers, delivery prices may rise further [4]. Investment Recommendations 1. Preferred Companies - The report recommends investing in STO and Yunda, both rated as "Buy" due to their higher earnings resilience. Target prices remain unchanged [5]. 2. Other Ratings - YTO and SF Holding-A/H also maintain "Buy" ratings with unchanged target prices. Conversely, Deppon Logistics is rated "Reduce" due to high valuation concerns [5]. Additional Insights - The expert highlighted that the express delivery market is characterized by intense competition, with 30% of the market being low-priced tickets and 7-11% being discount-priced tickets in Guangdong [3]. - The report anticipates more regional policy tailwinds that could drive further re-rating of express delivery companies [5]. This summary encapsulates the key points discussed during the conference call, providing insights into the current state and future outlook of the express delivery industry in China.