From September 7th to 8th, the Fourth Council Meeting of the Tungsten Industry Association's Hard Alloy Branch, along with the Hard Alloy Market Report Conference and the 13th National Hard Alloy Academic Conference, were successively held in Zhuzhou, China. The former is a regular meeting organized by the highest industry association, which takes place in different cities each year (last year's meeting was held in Shanghai). The latter occurs every four years and is a significant academic exchange event in the domestic materials field. During each conference, top experts from the hard alloy industry across the country, as well as representatives from enterprises, bring forth their latest research and observations.
Holding such a grand event in Zhuzhou not only provides a platform for broadening horizons and divergent thinking for local and national enterprises, but also underscores and reinforces Zhuzhou's vital position in the national hard alloy industry landscape. The "Zhuzhou consensus" formed and voiced during this event continues to guide industry trends and lead industry progress.
The Hard Alloy Industry Index Takes Shape in Zhuzhou
"At the 2021 conference, the sales of new hard alloy industry products nationwide amounted to 9.785 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 30.3%. Fixed asset investment was 1.943 billion yuan, and technology (research) investment was 1.368 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 29.69%..." Onstage, representatives from the Tungsten Industry Association's Hard Alloy Branch shared industry statistics and analysis. In the audience, attendees eagerly snapped pictures of these precious data points with their smartphones.
Hard alloy industry data statistics are an essential part of the branch's work. Since its establishment in 1984, the association has consistently published these statistics for 38 years. It is also the only sub-branch under the China Tungsten Industry Association that possesses and regularly publishes industry data.
The Hard Alloy Branch is affiliated with the Zhuzhou Hard Alloy Group, with the group serving as its chairman unit. Zhuzhou is also where the first hard alloy in New China was produced. Due to this significant standing, the "Hard Alloy Industry Index" has become a characteristic "signboard" with authority and industry attention, attracting more industry enterprises to disclose their authentic operating data on a quarterly or annual basis.
Statistics show that in the first half of 2022, the accumulated production of hard alloy in the national industry reached 22,983.89 tons, a year-on-year increase of 0.2%. Main business revenue was 18.753 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 17.52%; profits were 1.648 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 22.37%. The industry continues to maintain a positive development trend.
Currently, over 60 companies are willing to disclose data, covering nearly 90% of the national hard alloy industry's capacity.
Since last year, the branch has reformed and optimized statistical reports, devising a more reasonable, scientifically categorized, and practical statistical model. The content has also become more comprehensive, such as adding classification indicators like tungsten industrial product production capacity and comprehensive energy consumption.
Receiving the comprehensive "Hard Alloy Industry Index" report provides not only an accurate view of major enterprises' basic products, technical strengths, and innovations, but also crucially indicates industry development trends. This information holds important reference value for formulating the next steps of individual enterprise development strategies. Hence, this report is increasingly welcomed by industry enterprises.
As a barometer and compass for the industry, the release of industry indexes or "white papers" holds positive practical significance for analyzing industry development trends, guiding healthy industry growth, and promoting transformation and upgrading.
Furthermore, in-depth interpretations of index results and new industry trends, acting as a link, can expand the circle of connections and create an index-centered industrial ecosystem, attracting the convergence of capital, logistics, talent, and other essential elements.
In many fields and regions, this concept is already prominently exhibited.
For example, in April of this year, Guangzhou Metro led the release of the rail transit industry's first climate action report, which provides action recommendations for the industry's low-carbon, environmentally sustainable, rapid, and high-quality development. In recent years, based on strong resource integration and coordination capabilities throughout the industry chain, Guangzhou Metro has gained more influence in the national rail transit industry.
Another example is the city of Wenling in Zhejiang Province, known as the national hub of cutting tool brands and the location of the first listing of the "First Share of Cutting Tools Trading Center in China." Wenling has also released the first national cutting tool index, using indexes to describe and analyze the national cutting tool industry's development trends and product price changes, comprehensively reflecting the domestic cutting tool industry's prosperity.
The "Hard Alloy Industry Index," produced in Zhuzhou and targeting the entire country, might potentially be published in a more extensive format in the future. "It might develop in this direction later on; this is also the industry's demand and trend. However, it is currently only published within the industry in a small scope," said the aforementioned representative.
Not only indexes but also standards. From 2021 to 2022, the branch, in conjunction with the China Tungsten Industry Association, completed and published six national and industry standards for hard alloys. Eight national and industry standards are under review or awaiting publication, while thirteen national and industry standards have been submitted. Among these is the branch's leading draft of the "Energy Consumption Limits and Calculation Methods for Individual Hard Alloy Products." Currently, this standard is in the process of being declared a provincial-level local standard and is expected to apply for national standard status next year.
Seizing the Opportunity of World Capacity Transfer
Over two days, experts from research institutes, institutions, and enterprises, such as Zhongnan University, China University of Mining and Technology, Sichuan University, the National Tungsten and Rare Earth Product Quality Inspection and Testing Center, Xiamen Tungsten Co., Ltd., and Zigong Hard Alloy Co., Ltd., shared their insights and future outlooks for the industry.
Su Gang, the Secretary-General of the China Tungsten Industry Association, stated during his presentation that as global tungsten processing and production gradually recover, demand for tungsten raw materials will remain relatively high. Currently, China is the only country with a complete tungsten industry chain, with internationally competitive advantages in mining, selecting, and refining, and is advancing into advanced materials, heading towards high-end modern manufacturing. "The '14th Five-Year Plan' period will be an important stage for the transformation of China's tungsten industry towards high-quality development."
Zhang Zhongjian served as the Chairman of the China Tungsten Industry Association's Hard Alloy Branch for a long time and is currently the Executive Chairman of the Zhuzhou Hard Alloy Industry Association and a guest professor at Hunan University of Technology. He has a deep and long-term understanding of the industry. From his shared data, it can be seen that national hard alloy production has grown from 16,000 tons in 2005 to 52,000 tons in 2021, a 3.3-fold increase, accounting for over 50% of the global total. Total hard alloy operating income has risen from 8.6 billion yuan in 2005 to 34.6 billion yuan in 2021, a four-fold increase; consumption in the Chinese machinery processing solutions market has increased from 13.7 billion yuan in
Post time: Feb-01-2020
