Group 1 - The non-ferrous metal sector experienced a broad increase, with notable stock performances including Jiangxi Copper rising by 5.84% to HKD 18.49, and Luoyang Molybdenum increasing by 5.26% to HKD 10.6 [1] - The U.S. Labor Department reported a 0.2% month-on-month increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for July, aligning with expectations and showing a deceleration of 0.1 percentage points from the previous month [1] - Following the CPI data release, traders are betting on a high probability (over 90%) that the Federal Reserve will cut interest rates by 25 basis points in September [1] Group 2 - CITIC Securities noted that poor U.S. economic and employment data, combined with Trump's nomination of Stephen Moore to the Federal Reserve, has strengthened market expectations for a rate cut in September, leading to a rally in the non-ferrous sector [2] - The ongoing domestic "anti-involution" policy aims to optimize production factors and enhance profitability across various segments, which is favorable for the transmission of rising metal prices to downstream markets [2] - The valuation of the industrial metals sector is currently low, indicating potential for upward correction, with a bullish market for non-ferrous metals beginning to emerge as both EPS and PE metrics show promise [2]

Core Viewpoint - The company, Hengbang Co., Ltd. (002237.SZ), has received a notification from its controlling shareholder, Jiangxi Copper, regarding the reduction of its holdings in the company's convertible bonds, indicating a significant transaction in the bond market [1] Group 1 - Jiangxi Copper will transfer a total of 3,176,781 convertible bonds of Hengbang, which represents 10.05% of the total issuance of the company's convertible bonds [1] - The transfer will occur through centralized bidding from May 15, 2024, to August 5, 2025, indicating a planned timeline for the divestment [1]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - **Industry**: Copper and related materials in the Asia Pacific region, specifically focusing on the implications of US tariffs on copper products [1][4] Core Insights and Arguments - **US Tariffs**: The US is set to impose a 50% Section 232 tariff on semi-finished copper and copper-intensive derivative products, while copper input materials such as cathode, anode, concentrate, and scrap will not be subject to these tariffs [7][4] - **Market Reaction**: Following the announcement of tariffs, COMEX copper prices peaked over 30% higher than LME copper prices, indicating market expectations of broader tariff implications. However, with copper cathode exempt from tariffs, COMEX prices have since decreased by approximately 19%, and the premium over LME has fallen to around 6% [2][4] - **Inventory Levels**: There has been a significant increase in onshore copper inventory, with an additional 475,000 tons purchased since mid-March, suggesting that the US market is well-supplied and may see reduced import demand for copper in the near term [2][4] Implications for Chinese-listed Copper Companies - **Investment Recommendations**: Despite expected short-term pressure on companies like Zijin Mining, CMOC, MMG, and Jiangxi Copper, it is suggested that investors should consider accumulating shares of these companies on any price dips [3][4] - **Company Specifics**: - **Zijin Mining Group**: Target price adjustments based on A-share and H-share arbitrage opportunities [14][3] - **CMOC Group**: Valuation based on DCF model with a WACC of 10.7% and projected revenue growth of 2% annually [10][3] - **MMG Ltd**: Valuation reflects high visibility in long-term copper and zinc production with a cost of equity of 16.9% [8][3] Risks and Considerations - **Market Risks**: - Upside risks include stronger copper prices due to robust demand or supply disruptions in key copper-producing countries [12][17] - Downside risks involve potential economic downturns, project execution failures, and geopolitical risks affecting production [12][17] - **Regulatory Changes**: Changes in mining laws in Peru and other regions could impact supply dynamics and pricing [12][17] Additional Important Information - **Investment Banking Relationships**: Morgan Stanley has received compensation from several companies mentioned, which may influence research objectivity [5][24][25] - **Analyst Ratings**: The report includes various stock ratings for companies in the sector, indicating a mix of overweight and underweight positions based on market conditions [81][83] This summary encapsulates the critical insights and implications from the conference call regarding the copper industry and specific companies within the sector, highlighting both opportunities and risks for investors.

Core Viewpoint - The China Securities Hong Kong 300 Materials Index has shown significant growth, with a 10.89% increase over the past month, 32.08% over the past three months, and 51.78% year-to-date [1]. Group 1: Index Performance - The China Securities Hong Kong 300 Materials Index is currently at 2481.10 points [1]. - The index is based on a sample of all securities classified into various industries according to the China Securities industry classification standards [1]. Group 2: Index Composition - The top ten holdings in the China Securities Hong Kong 300 Materials Index include Zijin Mining (26.77%), China Hongqiao (11.87%), and Luoyang Molybdenum (7.47%) among others [1]. - The index is fully composed of stocks listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with a 100% representation [1]. Group 3: Industry Breakdown - The industry composition of the index shows that non-ferrous metals account for 79.54%, non-metallic materials for 14.60%, chemicals for 4.25%, and paper and packaging for 1.61% [2]. - The index samples are adjusted biannually, with changes implemented on the next trading day following the second Friday of June and December [2].

Core Viewpoint - The copper industry stocks have experienced a significant decline following the announcement of a 50% tariff on imported copper products by U.S. President Trump, leading to a historic drop in copper prices [1] Group 1: Stock Performance - Zijin Mining (601899) saw a drop of 4.48%, trading at 21.3 HKD [1] - Jiangxi Copper (600362) decreased by 4.09%, with a price of 15.94 HKD [1] - Luoyang Molybdenum (603993) fell by 3.48%, priced at 9.15 HKD [1] - Minmetals Resources (01208) declined by 2.75%, trading at 3.89 HKD [1] Group 2: Tariff Announcement Impact - President Trump announced a 50% tariff on imported semi-finished copper products and copper-intensive derivatives starting August 1 [1] - Following the tariff announcement, New York copper prices plummeted approximately 20% within minutes, marking the largest single-day drop in history [1] - The tariff is expected to affect the recent influx of copper into the U.S., which may lead to a re-export of large quantities of copper [1] Group 3: Historical Context - Earlier in the year, Trump's initial hints at potential copper tariffs caused U.S. copper prices to rise significantly compared to global markets, resulting in a surge of copper shipments to the U.S. [1] - On July 9, Trump announced the 50% tariff, which was double the expectations of most market participants, leading to a record high in U.S. copper prices [1]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the tungsten industry is "Outperform the Market" (maintained) [1] Core Viewpoints - The tungsten industry chain extends from exploration and mining of tungsten ore to smelting and deep processing, ultimately applied in various industrial fields. The upstream focuses on black and white tungsten ore, while the midstream involves the smelting of tungsten concentrate, ammonium paratungstate (APT), and tungsten powder. The downstream includes the processing of tungsten materials, tungsten wires, and hard alloys, with demand coming from sectors like machinery manufacturing, automotive, and electronics [2][6] - As of July 23, 2023, the prices for tungsten products have seen significant increases compared to the beginning of the year, with black tungsten concentrate at 185,000 RMB/ton (up 29.4%), APT at 272,000 RMB/ton (up 28.9%), tungsten powder at 405 RMB/kg (up 28.2%), and tungsten carbide powder at 395 RMB/kg (up 27.0%) [2][16] - The supply of tungsten is tightening, with the first batch of mining indicators for 2023-2025 showing a decrease in quotas, leading to expectations of a supply shortage. China's tungsten resources are abundant, holding the world's largest tungsten reserves and production, but total control policies have gradually lowered production levels [2][29] - Demand for tungsten is expected to grow, particularly in the fields of new energy vehicles and military applications, with the APT operating rate at historical highs. The demand for high-end hard alloys is resilient, supporting mid-to-high-end tungsten prices [2][16] - The tungsten supply-demand balance indicates a projected shortage of 2,919 tons in 2025, with prices expected to continue rising. Demand is anticipated to grow at a rate of 4.9% to 6.3% from 2025 to 2027, while supply is expected to increase by only 2,000 tons annually [2][16] - Key companies in the tungsten industry include Xiamen Tungsten, which has a full industry chain layout and is rapidly increasing its photovoltaic tungsten wire production; Zhongtung High-tech, a leader in hard alloys with significant raw material supply advantages; and Zhangyuan Tungsten, which has prominent resource advantages and improved deep processing profitability [2][16] Summary by Sections Tungsten Price Review - The tungsten prices have shown a steady increase over the past five years, correlating positively with PMI [9][12] Supply: Decrease in Mining Indicators - The first batch of mining indicators for 2023-2025 shows a reduction, with 2025's indicators down by 6.45%. This reduction reinforces expectations of a tight supply [2][16] Demand: Growth Driven by Photovoltaic Tungsten Wire - The demand for tungsten is expected to increase, particularly in high-end applications, with a projected consumption of 71,000 tons in 2024, reflecting a growth rate of 3.5% [2][6] Supply-Demand Balance: Expanding Shortage - The tungsten supply-demand balance indicates a growing shortage, with projected deficits increasing from 2,919 tons in 2025 to 9,020 tons by 2027 [2][16] Company Analysis - Xiamen Tungsten is expanding its photovoltaic tungsten wire production, while Zhongtung High-tech is a leader in hard alloys with strong raw material supply advantages [2][16]

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - **Industry**: Greater China Materials - **Date**: July 25, 2025 - **Analysts**: Morgan Stanley Asia Limited Key Takeaways Production and Sales of Industrial Goods - Average crude steel output from key steel mills was 2.141 million tons in mid-July 2025, reflecting a 2.1% increase compared to early July [1] - Planned production of household air conditioners is expected to decline by 7.1% year-over-year in August [1] - Passenger vehicle (PV) sales are projected at 1.85 million units in July, marking an 8% year-over-year increase but an 11% month-over-month decrease, with new energy vehicle (NEV) sales at 1.01 million units [1] - Shipbuilding delivery volume for the first half of 2025 was 24.13 million compensated gross tons (CGT), down 3.5% year-over-year [1] Infrastructure and Property Developments - Construction has commenced on a massive hydro station at the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet, with a total investment of RMB 1.2 trillion [2] - Water conservancy investment in China reached RMB 532.9 billion in the first half of 2025, a decrease of 6.3% year-over-year [2] - Renovation of old urban communities saw 16,500 new starts, achieving approximately 66% of the annual target in the first half of 2025 [2] Supply Policies - The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) are working to improve standards for recognizing low-price dumping and regulating market price order [3] - The National Energy Administration (NEA) has issued a notice to check coal overproduction in eight major coal-producing provinces for 2024 and year-to-date 2025 [3] Building Materials Activity - Weekly cement shipments in July 2025 were 665 million tons, with a year-to-date total of 2,778 million tons, reflecting a 56% increase [4] - Daily molten iron production was reported at 2,422 thousand tons, showing a slight decrease of 0.1% [4] - Planned production of battery materials in July 2025 includes 145.1 GWh of batteries, a 1% increase year-over-year, while lithium production is expected to reach 102.2 thousand tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE), a 3% increase [4] Additional Insights - The hydro station project is significant for future energy supply and infrastructure development in the region, indicating a strong government push towards renewable energy sources [8] - Supply-side policies may lead to increased market stability and reduced competition pressures in the materials sector [3] - The decline in household AC production and fluctuations in vehicle sales may indicate broader economic trends affecting consumer demand [1][2] Conclusion The conference call highlighted a mixed outlook for the Greater China materials sector, with positive developments in infrastructure and energy projects, but challenges in consumer goods production and sales. The ongoing supply-side policies are expected to play a crucial role in shaping market dynamics in the coming months.

Summary of Key Points from the Conference Call Industry Overview - **Industry Focus**: Greater China Materials, specifically in the Asia Pacific region [6][62] - **Current Industry View**: Attractive, indicating positive expectations for performance over the next 12-18 months [6][33] Key Market Movements Base Metals - **Copper**: Prices increased by 1.2% week-over-week (WoW) to Rmb79,640/t, with inventories down by 13.2% [2][10] - **Aluminum**: Prices rose by 0.4% WoW to Rmb20,780/t, while inventories increased by 6.4% [2][10] Battery Metals - **Lithium Hydroxide**: Domestic industrial-grade prices rose by 6.5% WoW to Rmb55,370/t, and battery-grade prices increased by 5.4% to Rmb60,520/t [2][10] - **Lithium Carbonate**: Industrial-grade prices saw an 8.8% increase WoW to Rmb68,900/t, while battery-grade prices rose by 8.6% to Rmb70,550/t [2][10] Steel - **Hot Rolled Coil (HRC)**: Prices increased by 1.5% WoW to Rmb3,400/t [3][10] - **Cold Rolled Coil (CRC)**: Prices rose by 4.0% WoW to Rmb3,914/t [3][10] - **Rebar**: Prices increased by 1.3% WoW to Rmb3,296/t [3][10] - **Tangshan Billet**: Prices rose by 5.4% WoW to Rmb3,120/t [3][10] Cement and Coal - **Cement**: Prices decreased by 1.0% WoW to Rmb324/t [3][10] - **Coal**: Prices for QHD5500 increased by 0.3% WoW to Rmb662/t, with inventories up by 1.2% to 5.85 million tonnes [3][10] Glass - **Float Glass**: Prices increased by 2.4% WoW to Rmb1,281/t [4][10] - **Glass Fiber**: Prices remained stable at Rmb3,900/t [4][10] Regulatory and Infrastructure Developments - **Regulatory Actions**: NDRC and SAMR are working to improve standards for recognizing low-price dumping and regulating market price order [8] - **Infrastructure Investment**: Construction of a hydro station in the Yarlung Tsangpo River in Tibet has commenced, with a total investment of Rmb1.2 trillion [8] Analyst Insights - **Analysts Involved**: Rachel L Zhang, Chris Jiang, Hannah Yang, and Davven Xu are the key analysts providing insights on the Greater China Materials sector [5][62] - **Investment Banking Relationships**: Morgan Stanley has received compensation for investment banking services from several companies in the materials sector, indicating potential conflicts of interest [17][20] Conclusion - The Greater China Materials sector is experiencing positive price movements across various commodities, with a favorable outlook for the coming months. Regulatory actions and significant infrastructure investments are also shaping the market landscape.

Investment Rating - The report rates the industry as "Outperform" [1] Core Views - Gold prices are expected to fluctuate due to tariff agreements and Federal Reserve independence issues, with prices initially rising before declining [2][9] - Copper prices are supported by positive market sentiment and upcoming tariff implementation, despite potential supply and demand pressures [10][12] - The aluminum sector is experiencing price fluctuations influenced by macroeconomic sentiment and inventory levels, with long-term demand expected to remain strong [11][12] Summary by Sections Weekly Research Insights - Gold prices are under pressure due to evolving tariff agreements and scrutiny of the Federal Reserve's independence, with a long-term bullish outlook on gold [9] - Copper prices are supported by positive sentiment in the domestic commodity market and upcoming tariff changes, with a long-term optimistic outlook [10] - Aluminum prices are influenced by macroeconomic factors and inventory levels, with expectations of sustained high profitability in the sector [11] Market Performance - The non-ferrous metal index increased by 7.10%, outperforming the broader market by 5.43%, ranking third among 30 sub-industries [12] - The top-performing sectors include tungsten, lithium, and rare earth materials, with significant individual stock gains [12] Metal Prices and Inventory - Prices for various metals, including lithium and cobalt, have shown significant increases, indicating strong demand and market dynamics [22][24][27] - Basic metals have generally seen price increases both domestically and internationally, with specific price movements detailed for copper, aluminum, zinc, lead, nickel, and tin [27][28] - Inventory levels for metals such as copper and aluminum have shown mixed trends, impacting market supply dynamics [35][36]

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the current state and future outlook of the copper smelting industry in China, highlighting production capacity, profitability challenges, and potential policy changes aimed at regulating the industry [2][5][6]. Production - In 2024, China's electrolytic copper production is expected to reach 13.64 million tons, accounting for 59% of global primary electrolytic copper production, with a compound annual growth rate of 10% since 2004 [3]. - The top ten companies in the copper smelting sector hold approximately 76% of the market share, with major producers including Jiangxi Copper (2.29 million tons), Tongling Nonferrous (1.77 million tons), and Jinchuan Group (1.33 million tons) [3]. Expansion - As of June 2025, the smelting operating rate is around 86%, with 2.98 million tons of production capacity yet to be put into operation. The annualized capacity for June 2025 is estimated at 15.88 million tons [4]. Profitability - The processing fee (TC/RC) has dropped significantly, with the spot price as of July 18, 2025, at -$43.2 per ton, marking a historical low. The long-term processing fee has also fallen to $0 per ton, forcing smelting companies to rely on by-products like sulfuric acid for profitability [5]. - If sulfuric acid prices decline further, smelting companies may face potential losses due to the lack of processing fee income [5]. Policy Implications - The implementation of "anti-involution" policies in the copper industry could limit new smelting capacity and accelerate the exit of smaller smelting operations. This may alleviate the current overcapacity and improve future profitability for smelting companies, especially as downstream consumption continues to grow due to sectors like renewable energy and grid upgrades [6].