Gansu Huangtai Wine-marketing Industry Co. Ltd.

Huangtai Liquor released its 2026 interim report. Total operating revenue was 48.5051 million yuan, down 15.99 percent year-on-year. Net profit attributable to the parent company was negative 17.1173 million yuan, with the loss widening by 11.8499 million yuan compared with the same period last year. Net cash flow from operating activities was negative 41.6745 million yuan, a decrease of 15.6715 million yuan year-on-year. The company's asset-liability ratio was 68.73 percent, gross margin was 64.04 percent, return on equity was negative 11.15 percent, and diluted earnings per share was negative 0.10 yuan. The number of shareholders was 33,500, and the top ten shareholders held 43.68 percent of total share capital.

The liquor sector staged a strong rebound on July 20, with Kweichow Moutai closing up nearly 6% and its share price reclaiming the 1,320 yuan level. Gujing Gongjiu hit the daily limit up, Luzhou Laojiao rose over 6%, Jinhui Liquor and Shanxi Xinghuacun Fenjiu gained over 5%, and Wuliangye, Yingjia Gongjiu, and Jinshiyuan all closed higher across the board. On the news front, Kweichow Moutai recently announced another price increase for its core blockbuster product, Feitian Moutai, and its non-standard product, the kilogram Moutai. Effective July 18, the retail price of Feitian 53% vol 500ml Kweichow Moutai on the iMoutai platform was raised from 1,539 yuan per bottle to 1,639 yuan per bottle, and the sales contract price was raised from 1,269 yuan per bottle to 1,369 yuan per bottle. The retail price of the kilogram Moutai was raised from 3,119 yuan per bottle to 3,269 yuan per bottle. Institutions believe the price hikes will help boost earnings. Huachuang Securities estimates that, after deducting value-added tax, the corresponding increase in reported revenue will be approximately 5.6 billion yuan, contributing an estimated profit of around 3.6 billion yuan. Recent semi-annual earnings forecasts from several liquor companies indicate the industry remains broadly under pressure, with Shede Spirits, Swellfun, Golden Seed Winery, and Huangtai Liquor posting losses or profit declines in the first half. Zheshang Securities believes the fundamentals have clearly bottomed out, and Kaiyuan Securities expects the sector to likely recover in the second half of the year. At the close, Kweichow Moutai traded at 1,327.5 yuan per share, up 5.95%, with a total market capitalization of 1.66 trillion yuan.

Data released by the National Bureau of Statistics on July 15 showed that in the first half of the year, the absolute retail sales of cigarette and alcohol products nationwide reached 354.7 billion yuan, up 13.2 percent year-on-year. In June alone, the absolute figure was 53.7 billion yuan, up 12.1 percent year-on-year. Boosted by this news, the A-share baijiu sector rose across the board that day. Gujing Gongjiu, Jinzhongzi Liquor, and Dahu Aquaculture hit the daily limit up. Luzhou Laojiao, Shanxi Xinghuacun Fenjiu, Shunxin Agriculture, and Jinshiyuan gained more than 5 percent. The sector's overall index rose 3.06 percent. However, the industry remains in a period of deep adjustment. As of July 15, about eight A-share listed baijiu companies had disclosed their first-half earnings forecasts. Except for Wuliangye, which is expected to report growth, the rest generally saw profit declines or losses. Tianyoude Liquor's net profit fell 76 to 84 percent year-on-year. Shunxin Agriculture's net profit fell 69.34 to 79.18 percent year-on-year. Jinzhongzi Liquor, Huangtai Liquor, Shuijingfang, and ST Spring are expected to report losses. Proactive destocking has become a common choice for liquor companies. Shuijingfang's channel inventory fell about 50 percent year-on-year. Shede Spirits controlled shipments to stabilize prices. Jiugui Liquor raised the strategic price of its 52-degree 500ml Neican liquor by 30 yuan per bottle and suspended shipments until August 15. Xiao Zhuqing, a Chinese liquor industry analyst, said consumers are shifting to affordable daily-drinking liquors priced under 100 yuan, and the premium on high-end famous brands is shrinking. Liquor companies need to face consumers directly to digest inventory.

First-half earnings previews from liquor companies have been released in a concentrated batch. Sub-premium and regional players such as Tianyoude, Swellfun, Golden Seed Winery, Shede Spirits, Shunxin Agriculture, and Huangtai Liquor broadly reported steep profit declines or outright losses. Tianyoude expects first-half revenue to fall about 14 percent year on year, with net profit attributable to the parent down 76 to 84 percent. Shunxin Agriculture sees attributable net profit dropping 69.34 to 79.18 percent. Swellfun delivered its first loss-making half-year report in recent years, with attributable net profit at negative 6.2221 million yuan, swinging from profit to loss. Golden Seed Winery expects an attributable net loss of 60 to 72 million yuan. Huangtai Liquor projects a loss of 10 to 18 million yuan, widening its year-on-year deficit. Shede Spirits earlier disclosed that attributable net profit fell 60.52 to 69.55 percent. Wuliangye, benefiting from a low base a year earlier, expects attributable net profit to rise 88.80 to 98.97 percent. Xiao Zhuqing, an independent commentator on China's liquor industry, said the sector is in a phase of deep adjustment in the first half, marked by shrinking demand, intense channel competition, and structural optimization, putting revenue and gross margins at sub-premium distillers under pressure.