Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport, Tracking Traffic

Daniel Hellberg

Asian Equities Analyst, Logistics & Transport

Tracking Traffic

Focusing on Asian logistics, transportation, and travel companies

Equity Bottom-Up

<ul>
<li>Chinese domestic and outbound air travel activity rebounded sharply in July - why?</li>
<li>If we're right about the reasons for July's recovery in traffic, bounce likely to be short-lived</li>
<li>We expect platform Trip.com to confirm a weak outlook when it reports Q226 results</li>
</ul>


Chinese domestic and outbound air travel activity rebounded sharply in July - why?
If we're right about the reasons for July's recovery in traffic, bounce likely to be short-lived
We expect platform Trip.com to confirm a weak outlook when it reports Q226 results


Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Air Travel Growth Rebounded in July | Why? And Is It Sustainable?

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Data from <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/trip-com-group-ltd-23a341d0-4f63-4175-a8c5-ee990906cacd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:36424:1" rel="noopener">Trip.com Group (9961 HK)</a> showed good improvement in travel demand for the 2024 New Year holidays. The volume of various orders has surged between 2x and 5x YoY. </li>
<li>Aggregate net profit for the tourism and hospitality sector has turned around to Rmb20.4bn in 3Q23, from losses of Rmb24.7bn a year ago, demonstrating solid profitability recovery.</li>
<li>An average of 32% drop in the sector's share price YTD is unjustified. We like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/tongcheng-travel-holdings-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27363:1" rel="noopener">Tongcheng Travel (780 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/air-china-ltd-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8239:1" rel="noopener">Air China (H) (753 HK)</a> and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/fosun-tourism-group" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:27439:1" rel="noopener">Fosun Tourism (1992 HK)</a>.  </li>
</ul>


Data from Trip.com Group (9961 HK) showed good improvement in travel demand for the 2024 New Year holidays. The volume of various orders has surged between 2x and 5x YoY. 
Aggregate net profit for the tourism and hospitality sector has turned around to Rmb20.4bn in 3Q23, from losses of Rmb24.7bn a year ago, demonstrating solid profitability recovery.
An average of 32% drop in the sector's share price YTD is unjustified. We like Tongcheng Travel (780 HK), Air China (H) (753 HK) and Fosun Tourism (1992 HK).  


China Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Boom in 2024 New Year Travel Demand

Equity Long-Short

Mo Aziz

<ul>
<li>FT article uncovers other contributors to surging air freight rates—Chinese online brands Temu and Shein are flooding Western nations with fast fashion and inexpensive e-commerce goods  </li>
<li>The biggest beneficiaries are Chinese carriers with significant air cargo exposure, and Cathay Pacific. This presents a potential catalyst for an earnings beat and a boost to the share price.</li>
<li>Carriers from Taiwan and South Korea will benefit from supply tightness to the U.S.. Logistics providers are unlikely to benefit much due to tight margins and volatile high freight rates </li>
</ul>


FT article uncovers other contributors to surging air freight rates—Chinese online brands Temu and Shein are flooding Western nations with fast fashion and inexpensive e-commerce goods  
The biggest beneficiaries are Chinese carriers with significant air cargo exposure, and Cathay Pacific. This presents a potential catalyst for an earnings beat and a boost to the share price.
Carriers from Taiwan and South Korea will benefit from supply tightness to the U.S.. Logistics providers are unlikely to benefit much due to tight margins and volatile high freight rates 


<ul>
<li>In early December 2022, Chinese authorities relaxed many Covid-19 restrictions</li>
<li>A year in, the recovery in Chinese tourism activity has disappointed, so far</li>
<li>Similarly, most Chinese tourism stocks have performed poorly over the last year</li>
</ul>


In early December 2022, Chinese authorities relaxed many Covid-19 restrictions
A year in, the recovery in Chinese tourism activity has disappointed, so far
Similarly, most Chinese tourism stocks have performed poorly over the last year


12 Months In, China's Tourism Recovery & Performance of China Tourism Shares Have Both Disappointed

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas, CrossASEAN Research

Henry Soediarko

Asian Insight Provider - Actionable ideas

CrossASEAN Research

At CrossASEAN Research we strive to produce unbiased and differentiated on the ground insights on companies across South East Asia. Our Research is produced for the most part after face to face meetings and conversations with company management to dig deep into the long term vision and strategy of the companies we cover. We seek to deliver investable and actionable themes on sectors and markets across SE Asia, often in collaboration with other Insight Providers across the region, pooling the vast experience of the analysts within the Smartkarma Ecosystem. We also offer bespoke work and tailor made trips for our clients. 

Insights across South East Asia

<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/singapore-airlines-ltd" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:74:1" rel="noopener">Singapore Airlines (SIA SP)</a> share price performance for the last 5 years is quite strong, thanks to the COVID rebound. </li>
<li>However, losses are still coming, notably from the continuing loss from Air India as well as the delayed fuel hedging loss as net fuel cost skyrocketed by 78% YoY.</li>
<li>Air India losses come from a crowded market (with low-cost carriers) as well as integration issues. More capital calls are expected, which is a negative for Singapore Airlines. </li>
</ul>



Singapore Airlines (SIA SP) share price performance for the last 5 years is quite strong, thanks to the COVID rebound. 
However, losses are still coming, notably from the continuing loss from Air India as well as the delayed fuel hedging loss as net fuel cost skyrocketed by 78% YoY.
Air India losses come from a crowded market (with low-cost carriers) as well as integration issues. More capital calls are expected, which is a negative for Singapore Airlines. 


Hong Kong

Cathay Pacific is a premium travel lifestyle brand offering scheduled passenger and cargo air transportation, along with low-cost travel and various lifestyle products and services. The airline connects Hong Kong, mainland China, and the world through its hub at Hong Kong International Airport. It was founded in Hong Kong in 1946.

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Cathay Pacific (293 HK)

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Air Travel Growth Rebounded in July | Why? And Is It Sustainable?

After weak growth in Q226, Chinese domestic and outbound air travel activity suddenly rebounded in July. But is the improvement sustainable? We...

Tracking Traffic

China Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Boom in 2024 New Year Travel Demand

China's National Immigration Administration estimates there will be 1.56m travelers passing through immigration during the 2024 Chinese New Year...

Osbert Tang, CFA

There's Something About Air Cargo

Chinese e-commerce platforms are driving up air freight rates, benefiting Chinese carriers and other North Asian carriers. This can be a catalyst...

Mo Aziz

12 Months In, China's Tourism Recovery & Performance of China Tourism Shares Have Both Disappointed

A year after most of China's pandemic-related travel restrictions were eased, we look back at the recovery in Chinese tourism activity in 2023.

Tracking Traffic

SINGAPORE AIRLINES (SIA): Bloody

Singapore Airlines Share Price performance is still quite strong despite a poor investment result from Air India. More capital calls are expected,...

Henry Soediarko

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Air Travel Growth Rebounded in July | Why? And Is It Sustainable?

After weak growth in Q226, Chinese domestic and outbound air travel activity suddenly rebounded in July. But is the improvement sustainable? We...

Tracking Traffic

China Tourism and Hospitality Industry: Boom in 2024 New Year Travel Demand

China's National Immigration Administration estimates there will be 1.56m travelers passing through immigration during the 2024 Chinese New Year...

Osbert Tang, CFA

There's Something About Air Cargo

​Chinese e-commerce platforms are driving up air freight rates, benefiting Chinese carriers and other North Asian carriers. This can be a catalyst...

Mo Aziz

12 Months In, China's Tourism Recovery & Performance of China Tourism Shares Have Both Disappointed

A year after most of China's pandemic-related travel restrictions were eased, we look back at the recovery in Chinese tourism activity in 2023.

Tracking Traffic

SINGAPORE AIRLINES (SIA): Bloody

Singapore Airlines Share Price performance is still quite strong despite a poor investment result from Air India. More capital calls are expected,...

Henry Soediarko

Chinese e-commerce platforms are driving up air freight rates, benefiting Chinese carriers and other North Asian carriers. This can be a catalyst...