Summary of Sanfu Outdoor Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Sanfu Outdoor - **Industry**: Outdoor Sports Equipment and Apparel Key Financial Highlights - **Revenue**: In the first half of 2025, Sanfu Outdoor achieved revenue of 378 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 21.77% [2][4] - **X Bionic Brand**: Revenue increased by 188% to 40.73 million yuan, becoming a core growth driver [2] - **Overall Gross Margin**: Improved to 59% from 57% in the previous year, primarily due to an increase in proprietary and exclusive agency brands [2][29] - **Online Sales Growth**: Rapid growth attributed to live streaming initiatives, with a target of achieving a balanced online (35%) and offline (65%) sales distribution [2][11] Strategic Initiatives - **Capital Raising**: Plans to raise funds through a private placement to enhance marketing for the X Bionic brand, which is positioned as a high-end functional sports product [2][6] - **Brand Development**: Continued focus on developing agency brands like Houdini and Crispi, with plans to fully operate the international outdoor brand MARMOT starting next year [2][5][7] - **Market Expansion**: Plans to strengthen brand promotion in professional sports like skiing and trail running, while also expanding into broader outdoor and urban outdoor markets [2][22] Challenges and Risks - **Squirrel Tribe Project**: Investment in the Squirrel Tribe project has been halted, with full impairment of fixed assets and expected losses in the second half of the year [3][19] - **Competitive Landscape**: The outdoor products market is rapidly evolving with new brands entering, requiring Sanfu Outdoor to enhance its core brand and marketing efforts [7][9] Brand Performance - **Houdini Brand**: Revenue increased significantly, contributing to overall profit growth [20] - **Crispi Brand**: Expected to open its first standalone store in Shanghai [5] - **X Bionic Brand**: Focused on high-tech, high-function products, with plans to introduce more accessible products for a broader consumer base [25][26] Future Outlook - **Store Expansion**: Plans to open several new stores for X Bionic and Houdini in key locations, including ski resorts [15][16] - **Marketing Strategy**: Emphasis on enhancing store image and increasing investment in new media platforms for brand promotion [21][24] - **Long-term Industry Trends**: The outdoor sports industry is expected to maintain healthy growth, driven by a shift towards a healthier lifestyle [8][9] Additional Insights - **Online vs. Offline Sales**: The company aims for a balanced sales approach, with a current trend showing faster growth in online sales [11] - **Brand Matrix**: Sanfu Outdoor has established a comprehensive brand matrix, focusing on existing brands while considering future exclusive agency opportunities [9][10] - **Recruitment Plans**: Actively seeking to expand the marketing team with experienced personnel to enhance brand operations [24]

Summary of the Conference Call for 诺唯赞 Company Overview - The company is involved in the life sciences, diagnostics, and pharmaceutical sectors, with a focus on innovative drug development and diagnostic solutions. Key Points Industry and Company Performance - In the first half of 2025, the life sciences segment generated revenue of 465 million yuan, a slight decrease of 2% year-on-year, but a real growth of approximately 9% when excluding VAT adjustments [2][4] - The overseas market revenue reached 63 million yuan, showing a nearly 70% year-on-year growth, continuing the trend of rapid expansion [2][5] - The diagnostics segment saw a significant decline of 37% in revenue, primarily due to reduced respiratory testing volumes [2][6] - The pharmaceutical segment achieved over 76 million yuan in revenue, a 7% increase, benefiting from a recovery in domestic innovative drugs and CRO business [2][7] Financial Performance - Total revenue for the company in the first half of 2025 was 606 million yuan, slightly down from 2024, with a gross margin of approximately 69%, a slight decrease due to changes in product mix [3] - Sales expenses increased by 2% to 223 million yuan, while R&D expenses decreased by 8% to 131 million yuan, reflecting the transition of some key products to commercialization [3] Strategic Developments - The company is shifting resources towards AD (Alzheimer's Disease) testing and new neurological product lines, with successful progress in AD testing and collaborations [2][6] - A joint project with 益妙神州 for cell therapy drugs is underway, targeting MSC (Mesenchymal Stem Cells) and NK (Natural Killer) technology platforms, with plans to complete 12 patient IAT studies by May 2026 [2][10][14] Market Trends and Competitive Landscape - The competitive environment has eased, with reduced pressure from small to medium enterprises and an increase in industry concentration [5] - Research funding is increasingly concentrated among leading research institutions and universities, which may benefit the company's future business development [5] Future Outlook - The life sciences segment is expected to contribute stable profits, with new business revenue showing potential for significant growth, indicating a turning point in overall profitability for the company by 2026 [4][39] - The company has 2.1 billion yuan in cash reserves, providing a strong foundation for future growth and investment in emerging business areas [38] Innovations and Product Development - The company has made significant advancements in blood testing, particularly in new indicators related to Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases, with plans for product registration and clinical data collection [20] - In the small nucleic acid drug development area, breakthroughs have been achieved, particularly in enzyme modification, enhancing product purity and reducing costs [21] International Business Expansion - The company’s international business is projected to grow by approximately 80% to double, focusing on North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia [27][28] - The overseas market is characterized by a preference for integrated solutions rather than individual components, which aligns with the company's product offerings [29][30] Collaborations and Partnerships - The collaboration with 迈瑞 has progressed significantly, with a substantial increase in installed equipment and a focus on respiratory products and AD channels [32][34] - The partnership with 益妙神州 is expected to leverage their expertise in cell gene therapy, enhancing the company's capabilities in this area [13][24] Regulatory and Policy Support - The company is benefiting from favorable policies for cell therapy drugs, which have established fast-track approval channels, facilitating quicker market entry for new treatments [15] Conclusion - The company is well-positioned for future growth, with a clear strategy focused on innovation, market expansion, and leveraging partnerships to enhance its product offerings and market presence [47]

Summary of the Conference Call for Dengkang Oral Care Company Overview - **Company**: Dengkang Oral Care - **Industry**: Oral Care Products Key Points and Arguments Sales Performance - In Q2, online channel sales decreased month-over-month due to strategic adjustments but still showed year-over-year growth. The offline channel benefited from the promotion of the "7-Day Repair Toothpaste," leading to significant sales growth. The company expects to achieve over 50% channel distribution in Q3 and aims for 90% by year-end [2][5] - The "7-Day Repair Toothpaste" has a gross margin approximately 30% higher than other toothpastes, with a net profit margin improvement of over ten percentage points, targeting sensitive and high-income consumers in major cities [2][8] New Product Launches - The new "Keratin Toothpaste," launched in August 2025, has shown excellent performance within two weeks, with the company aiming to leverage this product to drive e-commerce growth, particularly on platforms like Douyin [6][18] - The company plans to increase the proportion of mid-to-high-end products to enhance profitability, with a target of achieving over 10% market share in 2025 and 15%-20% in 2026 for offline sales [7][11] E-commerce Strategy - The e-commerce strategy focuses on high-quality development, reducing traffic spending on Douyin while maintaining a natural growth rate of 20%-30%. The company emphasizes strengthening warehousing and shelf e-commerce, particularly on profitable platforms like Tmall and JD [13][14] - In H1 2025, the overall e-commerce profitability remained stable compared to the previous year, with Douyin showing slight improvements in net profit margin [16] Market Position and Competition - Dengkang Oral Care aims to become the second-largest player in the industry within three years and to narrow the gap with the market leader within five years, contingent on maintaining growth trends and no significant issues with competitors [3][24] - The company has seen its market share in the offline segment grow from over 8% in 2024 to nearly 10% in 2025, while competitors are experiencing declines [22][25] Future Outlook - The company anticipates a significant improvement in offline profitability by 2026, while online profitability may improve due to adjustments in traffic costs [17] - Dengkang Oral Care plans to focus on promoting the "Keratin Toothpaste" and gradually introduce higher-end products, adapting to market conditions and consumer acceptance [19][20] Financial Metrics - The gross margin for the "Keratin Toothpaste" is estimated to be between 80% and 90%, higher than previous products [21] - Online sales accounted for approximately 35%-36% of total revenue in H1 2025, with expectations to reach around 40% in the following year [28] Additional Insights - The company has launched 15 new products in 2025, with a focus on the "Keratin Toothpaste" and "Huanglian Toothpaste," targeting different market segments [18] - The competitive landscape in e-commerce is challenging, with competitors facing losses, while Dengkang maintains a focus on stable profitability despite slower growth [22] This summary encapsulates the key insights from the conference call, highlighting Dengkang Oral Care's strategic initiatives, market performance, and future outlook in the oral care industry.

海天瑞声 摘要 国央企 AI 研发投入驱动海天瑞声境内业务增长，受益于其在中国移动体 系内的卡位优势，预计 2025 年上半年确认收入将显著提升。 传统科技互联网大厂仍是重要客户，阿里巴巴全球化推广需求激增，对 海天瑞声多语种和多情感 TTS 数据采购量大幅增加，收入贡献同比大幅 增长。 海外内容审核业务成为新的增长点，通过菲律宾基地为跨国互联网公司 提供服务，规模达 1,500 人，年收入数千万元，并拓展美国定制数据标 注业务。 数据市场加速扩张，高质量数据成关键。海天瑞声与地方政府及国资公 司深度合作，在行业数据集建设中占据优势，以文旅数据为切入点，探 索数字人应用。 积极参与全球人工智能合作，在广西建立中国东盟人工智能创新合作中 心，承接东盟语种语料库建设，订单规模约 2000 万，支撑本地大模型 开发。 高度重视具身智能领域，与瑞曼合作共建人形机器人数据训练中心，探 索多种数据获取路径，已在六省份落地具身数据要素产业化项目。 2025 年上半年毛利率下滑因定制服务占比增加，标准化产品占比下降。 未来将转向中高阶项目，通过地方子公司承接数据要素产业化项目，提 升利润空间，预计全年增速至少 50%以上。 ...

Summary of the Conference Call for 聚光科技 (Juguang Technology) Company Overview - **Company**: 聚光科技 (Juguang Technology) - **Industry**: Optical technology, semiconductor processing, automotive applications, and consumer electronics Key Financial Performance - **Revenue Growth**: In the first half of 2025, revenue reached 390 million RMB, a 26% year-on-year increase. Q2 revenue was 223 million RMB, up 32% from Q1 [2][4] - **Net Profit**: The company reported a net loss of 24.94 million RMB, an improvement from a loss of 28.12 million RMB in the same period of 2024. The adjusted net loss, excluding stock compensation, was 6.72 million RMB, down from 19.82 million RMB [2][4] - **Gross Margin**: Increased from 28% in 2024 to 33% in 2025, attributed to a higher proportion of high-margin businesses and effective cost control [2][4][5] - **Operating Cash Flow**: Positive operating cash flow of 15.89 million RMB as of June 2025, up from 3.89 million RMB in Q1 [5] Business Segment Performance - **Automotive Applications**: Q2 revenue grew 230% quarter-on-quarter and 25% year-on-year, driven by increased automotive lighting business [2][12] - **Photonics and Manufacturing Services**: Significant growth with Q2 revenue reaching 22.5 million RMB, a 101% increase from Q1. Total revenue for the first half was 33.72 million RMB [2][9] - **Laser Optics**: Contributed 50% to total revenue, but faced a 10% decline year-on-year due to challenges in overseas markets [2][10] Strategic Initiatives - **Market Expansion**: The company is focusing on expanding market share, increasing the proportion of high-margin businesses, and implementing cost control measures [2][7] - **Business Transformation**: Accelerating strategic transformation towards emerging sectors like optical communication, consumer electronics, and semiconductor processing while maintaining traditional businesses for cash flow support [3][39] - **M&A Activities**: Recent acquisitions aimed at entering new markets and enhancing capabilities in semiconductor processing and consumer electronics [25][28] Operational Improvements - **Cost Management**: Reduction in sales, management, and R&D expense ratios from 53% in Q1 to 36% in Q2 [4] - **Inventory Management**: Accounts receivable turnover days improved from 88 to 79 days, indicating better cash flow management [5] - **Digital Transformation**: Implementation of SIP ERP and MES systems to enhance operational efficiency [18] Future Outlook - **Growth Projections**: The company expects continued growth in the second half of 2025, with a focus on maintaining positive cash flow and profitability [67] - **Emerging Technologies**: Plans to develop high-precision multi-channel microwave technology and CPO solutions, with potential breakthroughs expected in the next few years [42][44] - **Market Positioning**: Aiming to become a key player in the optical communication and consumer electronics sectors, leveraging technological advantages and strategic partnerships [70][71] Additional Insights - **R&D Focus**: Emphasis on high-potential projects and reducing investment in low-return initiatives [21][34] - **Impact of Tariffs**: Minimal direct impact from tariffs due to a shift in production to Southeast Asia, although global economic conditions have affected business [24] - **Human Resource Strategy**: Focus on increasing business volume to improve efficiency rather than downsizing [17][64] This summary encapsulates the key points from the conference call, highlighting the financial performance, strategic initiatives, operational improvements, and future outlook of 聚光科技.

Summary of Conference Call for Gongjin Co., Ltd. Industry Overview - The company benefits from increased investments in AI, leading to significant growth in demand for computing infrastructure and an expanding data center switch market. [2][4] - The AI server market is experiencing rapid development, with technological advancements enhancing value. [5] Core Insights and Arguments - Gongjin Co., Ltd. turned a profit in the first half of 2025, with improved profit margins. The network communication business benefited from a recovery in overseas markets, while the data communication business thrived due to high demand for data center switches. [2][6] - The revenue structure changed significantly in the first half of 2025, with overseas revenue from network communication products rising to 70%, which is 14 percentage points higher in gross margin compared to domestic sales. [2][7] - The company is strategically focusing on AI hardware manufacturing, particularly in automotive electronics and EMS (Electronic Manufacturing Services), with EMS showing rapid growth and a projected output nearing 300 million yuan in the first half of 2025. [2][8] Financial Performance - Gongjin Co., Ltd. achieved a turnaround in profitability in the first half of 2025, with a notable recovery in the overseas market for network communication and strong growth in data center switch manufacturing. The company shipped over 17,000 servers in the first half of 2025, with expectations for further acceleration in the second half. [6][11] - The revenue structure saw a significant shift, with overseas revenue from network communication products reaching 70%, compared to a balanced domestic and overseas revenue split in the previous year. [7] Emerging Directions in AI Hardware Manufacturing - The company is focusing on automotive electronics and EMS, with a positive outlook for order growth in automotive electronics and rapid expansion in EMS. [8] Strategic Focus Areas - Gongjin Co., Ltd. plans to focus on two main areas: traditional communication business (including optical, wireless, and mobile terminals) and AI-related sectors, including data centers, key components for smart vehicles, and components for new energy vehicles. [9] Additional Important Insights - The company is actively participating in the AI server market, with expectations that AI servers will account for over 50% of total shipments in the coming years, potentially reaching 70%. [11] - The company has established a presence in the North American and Mexican markets, with production facilities in Vietnam expected to grow by 50% in 2025. [16] - The company is optimistic about the FTTR (Fiber to the Room) product market in China, anticipating a gradual increase in market share despite short-term competitive pressures. [15] - The automotive electronics sector is still in the investment phase, with increasing demand but not yet achieving profitability. [22] Conclusion - Gongjin Co., Ltd. is well-positioned in the current AI and technology bull markets, with strong growth in infrastructure equipment demand and promising developments in automotive electronics and EMS. The company’s financial performance is improving, and it is expected to continue its growth trajectory. [26]

Summary of Huaxin Cement Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Huaxin Cement - **Industry**: Cement and Construction Materials Key Points Financial Performance - Domestic revenue decreased by 1.17% year-on-year due to falling sales volume and prices of cement, aggregates, and ready-mixed concrete [2][3] - Domestic cement sales price increased by 6.6% year-on-year, the highest among comparable companies [2][5] - Cost reduced by approximately 7.9% year-on-year, primarily due to lower fuel costs, particularly coal [5] Overseas Expansion - The company aims to achieve a target of 50 million tons of overseas capacity, having already invested nearly $2 billion to establish 30 million tons of capacity [2][7] - The Nigerian project has completed equity transfer, with a capacity of 10.5 million tons expected to maintain a trend of increasing volume and price through 2025 [2][6][10] - The Nigerian market's profitability is significantly affected by exchange rate fluctuations, with a recovery in earnings expected in the first half of 2025 [9][15] Market Conditions - The Chinese cement market is experiencing a decline in demand, with fixed asset investment growth down by 1.1 percentage points and real estate investment down by 11.2% year-on-year [3][14] - Aggregate prices remained stable in the first half of 2025, fluctuating between 35-37 RMB per ton, with a slight decline noted in July [11] Strategic Initiatives - The company plans to pursue overseas asset spin-offs to accelerate development and enhance financing capabilities [7][8] - There is a focus on internal management, cost control, and maintaining demand to avoid vicious competition [4][14] Future Outlook - The Nigerian market is expected to continue its upward trend in volume and price in the second half of 2025, with projected price increases of 30% and volume growth of 16.8% [10] - The company remains optimistic about the long-term growth prospects of the Chinese economy despite short-term adjustments [14][22] Risks and Challenges - Exchange rate volatility has led to significant foreign exchange losses, estimated at approximately 158 million RMB in the first half of 2025 [4][15] - The company does not face immediate capacity expansion needs and has surplus indicators available for sale [19] Technical Upgrades - The company plans to implement low-cost technical upgrades to enhance production capacity and reduce costs, similar to successful projects in Zambia, India, and South Africa [17][18] Regulatory Environment - The national policy on overproduction aims to alleviate industry excess, with the company not currently involved in capacity supplementation requirements [22] Long-term Goals - The company is focused on achieving its 50 million tons overseas target, with potential for future expansion to 60 million, 70 million, or even 100 million tons depending on acquisition speed [22]

Summary of Weichai Power Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Weichai Power - **Industry**: Engine manufacturing, Data center equipment Key Points Financial Performance - In the first half of 2025, Weichai Power's data center business revenue reached **2.33 billion RMB**, a **59%** year-on-year increase [2] - Net profit for the same period was **499 million RMB**, reflecting a **145%** year-on-year growth [2] - Gross margin maintained at **28.83%**, with a net profit margin of **21.47%** [2] Business Segments - **Heavy-duty Engine Business**: - Profitability remains robust despite some fluctuations in natural gas engines [5] - Expected stable growth driven by industry recovery and replacement cycles [5] - **Data Center Engine Sales**: - Sales of data center engines approached **600 units**, marking a **491%** increase year-on-year [3] - **Kion Group Impact**: - Kion Group's new orders totaled **6.2 billion EUR**, a **22%** increase year-on-year, with supply chain systems orders doubling [6] - Kion's revenue for the first half was **5.5 billion EUR**, with net profit at **47.9 million EUR** [6] Future Projections - Expected revenue for Weichai Power in 2025 is approximately **12.5 billion RMB**, with projections exceeding **15 billion RMB** in 2026 [7] - Growth drivers include Kion Group recovery, other segment growth, and rapid expansion in large-bore diesel and natural gas power generation [7] Industry Trends - The data center industry is experiencing strong demand, with expectations for global equipment demand to potentially double to **40-50 billion RMB** by 2028-2030 [2][9] - The industry exhibits high pricing power due to supply-demand imbalances, which will enhance Weichai's product development and profitability [9] Risks - Key risks include potential underperformance in operational growth and significant increases in raw material prices, which could impact overall profitability [10]

Summary of the Conference Call for Sichuan Electronics Company Overview - **Company**: Sichuan Electronics - **Core Business Lines**: Low-altitude economy, controllable nuclear fusion, and military industry [4][20] Key Points and Arguments Low-altitude Economy - **Government Support**: Anhui Province issued 456 billion yuan in special bonds, with 18.6 billion yuan allocated for Hefei's low-altitude economic infrastructure, benefiting Sichuan Electronics [2][6] - **Market Position**: Sichuan Electronics is positioned as a leader in low-altitude safety, leveraging its core competencies in Anhui [4][6] - **Product Development**: The company has launched the UM low-altitude navigation system and various platforms for low-altitude service regulation and drone applications, validated in complex scenarios [2][10] Controllable Nuclear Fusion - **Expansion Cycle**: The controllable nuclear fusion sector is expected to enter a capital expenditure expansion cycle in the next 3-5 years, benefiting suppliers of materials and equipment [7][18] - **Project Wins**: Sichuan Electronics' subsidiary, Huayao Electronics, won the EAST power supply project, indicating strong competitiveness in the PSM high-voltage power supply sector [4][7] Military Industry - **Market Growth**: The military market is projected to perform strongly in 2025, which is expected to positively impact Sichuan Electronics as a military enterprise [8][20] - **Support from Parent Company**: The major shareholder, Zhongdian Bowei, controlled by China Electronics Corporation, provides significant support for technology development and market expansion [4][8] Radar Technology and Market Position - **Core Business**: Radar technology constitutes over half of the company's revenue, including wind, rain, and cloud measurement radars [5][11] - **Market Share**: Sichuan Electronics holds a significant market share in the domestic civil aviation sector, particularly in radar systems [5][11] Economic Efficiency through Resource Reuse - **Platform Development**: The "Low Air Quantity" platform integrates existing urban infrastructure to reduce construction costs and enhance overall efficiency [12][13] Future Prospects - **Profit Recovery**: The company anticipates a return to profitability in 2026, following a challenging year in 2025 [5][20] - **Strategic Focus**: Sichuan Electronics is expected to benefit from its focus on military, nuclear fusion, and low-altitude sectors, which are anticipated to drive stock performance [20] Additional Important Insights - **Anhui's Strategic Advantage**: Anhui Province has seen significant growth in low-altitude routes and airspace, with 27 new low-altitude routes and 30 airspaces, marking increases of 50% and 40% respectively [3][16] - **Government Initiatives**: The issuance of special bonds reflects the government's commitment to supporting industries related to low-altitude economy and safety [21]

Summary of Ding Sheng New Material Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Ding Sheng New Material - **Industry**: Aluminum foil manufacturing, specifically focusing on battery foils and electromagnetic foils Key Financial Highlights - **Revenue Growth**: 15.94% increase in revenue for the first half of the year, reaching approximately 13.3 billion CNY [2][3] - **Net Profit Growth**: 2.33% increase in net profit, totaling approximately 188 million CNY [2][3] - **Operating Cash Flow**: Significant increase of 49.37%, amounting to approximately 277 million CNY [2][3] - **Product Sales**: Total sales of 520,000 tons, with battery foil sales increasing by 46% to 90,000 tons [3] Market Position and Product Segments - **Market Share**: Holds 40%-45% market share in the electromagnetic foil sector [2][4] - **Future Orders**: Anticipates a significant increase in orders for coated carbon aluminum foil, potentially reaching 60%-70% market share in the next two to three years [2][4] - **Production Capacity**: Plans to expand production capacity in Inner Mongolia to meet growing domestic and international demand [2][4] Strategic Focus - **Expansion Plans**: Focus on expanding production capacity for coated carbon aluminum foil and optical films, with a target of 100,000 tons by 2027 [2][7] - **Cost Reduction**: Aims to lower production costs through the Inner Mongolia base and gradually release new capacity [2][7] - **Product Structure Adjustment**: Plans to adjust product structure in the European market and may shift operations in Thailand by 2027 [2][6][7] Regional Performance - **European Market**: Continues to incur losses but expects to turn profitable by Q1 2026 due to improved processing fees and order structure adjustments [6][13] - **Thai Market**: Benefiting from U.S. tariffs on India, leading to improved profitability; currently operating at full capacity [6][21] Future Outlook - **Profit Recovery**: Expects net profit to recover in 2025 and experience significant growth in 2026, particularly in optical and coated carbon products [2][8] - **Sales Projections**: Anticipates total shipments of 250,000 to 260,000 tons in 2026, with coated carbon products accounting for 20% [9] - **Strategic Partnerships**: Established close relationships with downstream clients in the energy storage sector, with an 80% supply ratio in Wuhan [10] Competitive Landscape - **Industry Position**: Expected to become a leading player in the industry with the full operation of production lines in Inner Mongolia and Hangzhou [11] - **Profitability Expectations**: Anticipates improved profitability post-2025, with stable or rebounding profit margins [12] Emerging Trends - **Lithium Battery Focus**: Plans to prioritize lithium battery business and high-value products, with a 5% annual expansion in optical films [34] - **Solid-State Battery Collaboration**: Ongoing collaboration with CATL in solid-state battery development [25] Challenges and Risks - **Raw Material Prices**: Fluctuations in aluminum prices impact inventory value but have limited effect on processing fees [30] - **Tariff Impacts**: U.S. tariffs on aluminum may pose challenges but also present opportunities for pricing adjustments [31] Conclusion - **Overall Sentiment**: The company maintains an optimistic outlook for future growth, particularly in high-margin products and strategic market adjustments, while addressing challenges in the European market and raw material costs [36][37]