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>Despite a few pockets of improved demand, key Transpacific trade remains weak</li>
<li>Most carriers reported low (48% - 68%) but stable cargo load factors in August</li>
<li>For carriers, still lots of empty space to sell; macro view shows no "snap-back"</li>
</ul>


Despite a few pockets of improved demand, key Transpacific trade remains weak
Most carriers reported low (48% - 68%) but stable cargo load factors in August
For carriers, still lots of empty space to sell; macro view shows no "snap-back"


Monthly Air Cargo Tracker | August Shows Pockets of Growth | But LF, Pricing Both Still Very Weak

<ul>
<li>Weak travel growth getting weaker, now years out from steepest part of recovery</li>
<li>Most airlines &amp; hotel chains have benefitted little from improved travel demand</li>
<li>In recent months, appears momentum shifting back to travel intermediaries </li>
</ul>


Weak travel growth getting weaker, now years out from steepest part of recovery
Most airlines &amp; hotel chains have benefitted little from improved travel demand
In recent months, appears momentum shifting back to travel intermediaries 


Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Momentum Shifts From Airlines to TCOM | September 2025

Thematic (Sector/Industry)

<ul>
<li>Airline &amp; airport air cargo data shows moderating demand, Asia &gt; N America</li>
<li>No signs of supply tightness in the system; in fact, reported yields are <em>falling</em>
</li>
<li>Most indicators show that demand is mediocre, space plentiful, pricing weak</li>
</ul>


Airline &amp; airport air cargo data shows moderating demand, Asia &gt; N America
No signs of supply tightness in the system; in fact, reported yields are falling

Most indicators show that demand is mediocre, space plentiful, pricing weak


Monthly Air Cargo Tracker | May-July Data Shows Soft Demand, Ample Capacity, Lower Yields

<ul>
<li>Led by Accommodation activity, Q225 net revenue growth was a solid +16% Y/Y </li>
<li>Some progress on OpEx control, but core margins declined <em>again</em> in Q225</li>
<li>Even with big buyback, is it worth US$75/ADS? We think fair value near US$60</li>
</ul>


Led by Accommodation activity, Q225 net revenue growth was a solid +16% Y/Y 
Some progress on OpEx control, but core margins declined again in Q225
Even with big buyback, is it worth US$75/ADS? We think fair value near US$60


Trip.com Q225 Results | Big Buyback a Surprise | But Margins Still Under Pressure | Fair Value US$60

HK/China Equity Long-Short

Osbert Tang, CFA

<ul>
<li>1H25 earnings of our coverage are generally weaker than expected, with a 5.9% growth; for 2H25, the consensus forecasts point to a further slowdown to 4%. </li>
<li>The Chinese airlines, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/shanghai-electric-group-company-limited-d542164d-4d5a-4ce0-b33e-5fe6bc34722c" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:8777:1" rel="noopener">Shanghai Electric Group (2727 HK)</a>, <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/sany-heavy-equipment-intl" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:11104:1" rel="noopener">Sany Heavy Equipment (631 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-travel-international-investment-hong-kong" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:3879:1" rel="noopener">China Travel International Investment (308 HK)</a> exhibit the best YoY growth in 2H25. </li>
<li>Container shipping and trade-related companies like <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/china-cosco-holdings-h" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:286:1" rel="noopener">COSCO Shipping Holdings (1919 HK)</a>, and <a href="https://www.smartkarma.com/entities/orient-overseas-international" target="_blank" data-smartkarma-citation="entities:801:1" rel="noopener">Orient Overseas International (316 HK)</a> are expected to see earnings plunge in 2H25.</li>
</ul>


1H25 earnings of our coverage are generally weaker than expected, with a 5.9% growth; for 2H25, the consensus forecasts point to a further slowdown to 4%. 
The Chinese airlines, Shanghai Electric Group (2727 HK), Sany Heavy Equipment (631 HK), and China Travel International Investment (308 HK) exhibit the best YoY growth in 2H25. 
Container shipping and trade-related companies like COSCO Shipping Holdings (1919 HK), and Orient Overseas International (316 HK) are expected to see earnings plunge in 2H25.


China Strategy: 1H25 Roundup and Implications for 2H25

China

China Eastern Airlines Corporation Limited operates airline businesses. The Company provides passenger transport, air freight, air catering, and other related services. China Eastern Airlines conducts businesses worldwide.

Price Gauge
52-week Range	0.00 - 0.00
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China Eastern Airlines Lt (600115 CH)

Monthly Air Cargo Tracker | August Shows Pockets of Growth | But LF, Pricing Both Still Very Weak

August air cargo data from a range of carriers and cargo gateways around the Pacific Rim show uneven demand, but still-low utilization and weak...

Tracking Traffic

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Momentum Shifts From Airlines to TCOM | September 2025

Chinese air travel growth continues to slow. Chinese airlines have been unable to lift margins as aircraft utilization improves, and we no longer...

Tracking Traffic

Monthly Air Cargo Tracker | May-July Data Shows Soft Demand, Ample Capacity, Lower Yields

A look at July yields, load factors, and tonnage growth in July suggests an Asian air cargo market that has plenty of supply to meet moderating...

Tracking Traffic

Trip.com Q225 Results | Big Buyback a Surprise | But Margins Still Under Pressure | Fair Value US$60

Trip.com announced a big share buyback last week, but its Q225 core results were unimpressive. Given modest growth expectations, we put fair value...

Tracking Traffic

China Strategy: 1H25 Roundup and Implications for 2H25

1H25 earnings weaker than expected with 5.9% growth; 2H25 forecasts show further slowdown to 4%. Chinese airlines and trade-related companies...

Osbert Tang, CFA

Price Gauge

52-week Range

Market Cap (USDm)

P/E

Dividend (Yield)

Monthly Air Cargo Tracker | August Shows Pockets of Growth | But LF, Pricing Both Still Very Weak

August air cargo data from a range of carriers and cargo gateways around the Pacific Rim show uneven demand, but still-low utilization and weak...

Tracking Traffic

Monthly Chinese Tourism Tracker | Momentum Shifts From Airlines to TCOM | September 2025

Chinese air travel growth continues to slow. Chinese airlines have been unable to lift margins as aircraft utilization improves, and we no longer...

Tracking Traffic

Monthly Air Cargo Tracker | May-July Data Shows Soft Demand, Ample Capacity, Lower Yields

A look at July yields, load factors, and tonnage growth in July suggests an Asian air cargo market that has plenty of supply to meet moderating...

Tracking Traffic

Trip.com Q225 Results | Big Buyback a Surprise | But Margins Still Under Pressure | Fair Value US$60

Trip.com announced a big share buyback last week, but its Q225 core results were unimpressive. Given modest growth expectations, we put fair value...

Tracking Traffic

China Strategy: 1H25 Roundup and Implications for 2H25

​1H25 earnings weaker than expected with 5.9% growth; 2H25 forecasts show further slowdown to 4%. Chinese airlines and trade-related companies...

Osbert Tang, CFA

1H25 earnings weaker than expected with 5.9% growth; 2H25 forecasts show further slowdown to 4%. Chinese airlines and trade-related companies...