Core Viewpoint - The rapid decline in lithium salt prices is seen as a necessary phase for market clearing, with significant implications for upstream mining companies as operational pressures increase [1] Supply - The cost of lithium mining has decreased significantly, leading to a drop in Australian lithium prices, which fell to $743 per ton, a 9% decrease since April [1] - Some Australian mines reported substantial reductions in production costs, with Marion lithium mine's Q1 FOB cost dropping to 708 AUD/ton from 1076 AUD/ton in the second half of 2024 [1] - The overall cost reduction in lithium mining is expected to continue, but the survival space for Australian mines is shrinking due to lower lithium prices [1] Inventory - As of April 30, China's lithium carbonate inventory reached 96,000 tons, the highest level since 2021, indicating a supply surplus in the market [2] - The inventory held by smelters and downstream sectors also reached record highs, with smelters holding 51,000 tons and downstream holding 45,000 tons [2] Production - The rapid decline in lithium salt prices has led to a cost inversion for lithium salt refining companies, with production cash costs exceeding market prices [3] - In April, China's lithium carbonate production fell to 74,000 tons, a 7% decrease month-on-month, while lithium hydroxide production decreased by 1% to 25,000 tons [3] - The reduction in production is expected to intensify as the cost inversion deepens, particularly affecting higher-cost mining operations [3] Demand - Demand for lithium salts is primarily driven by the electric vehicle and energy storage battery markets, with a 42% year-on-year increase in China's new energy vehicle wholesale sales in the first four months of 2025 [4] - Global energy storage installations are projected to grow by 36% in 2025, reaching 216 GWh [4] - Despite some preemptive inventory accumulation due to tariff expectations, the overall growth rate for lithium salt demand remains robust and is expected to outpace supply growth [4]

Core Insights - The article highlights the remarkable journey of Jiang Weiping, known as the "Lithium King," who transformed Tianqi Lithium from a small company into a global lithium giant over a decade [2][11] Group 1: Strategic Decisions - In 2012, Jiang Weiping took decisive action to prevent Rockwood from acquiring Talison, a major lithium supplier, which would have severely impacted China's lithium resource supply [3][4] - Jiang leveraged his entire fortune and borrowed extensively to acquire 19.99% of Talison, becoming its second-largest shareholder and successfully blocking the acquisition [4][6] Group 2: Global Expansion - After securing Talison, Jiang set his sights on SQM, a leading lithium producer in Chile, and in 2017, he acquired 23.77% of SQM for $4.066 billion (approximately 259 billion RMB) [6][7] - The acquisition of SQM significantly enhanced Tianqi Lithium's global influence in the lithium market, despite the financial risks involved [6][7] Group 3: Crisis Management - Following a downturn in lithium prices and financial difficulties, Tianqi Lithium faced severe challenges, including a loss of nearly 60 billion RMB in 2019 [7][8] - Jiang demonstrated resilience by exploring various financing options and successfully brought in IGO as a strategic investor, allowing the company to stabilize [8][10] Group 4: Long-term Vision - Jiang's acquisitions were not only reactive but also strategic, aimed at securing China's long-term lithium resource needs amid growing demand in the renewable energy sector [10][11] - His foresight and ability to navigate through adversity exemplify the spirit of entrepreneurship, contributing significantly to the development of China's lithium industry [11]

Financial Performance - The company reported a revenue of 13.1 billion in 2024, a year-on-year decrease of 68%, with a net profit attributable to shareholders of -7.9 billion, a year-on-year decline of 208% [1] - In Q4 2024, the revenue was 3 billion, down 58% quarter-on-quarter and 18% year-on-year, with a net profit of -2.2 billion, reflecting a quarter-on-quarter decline of 175% and a year-on-year decline of 345% [1] - For Q1 2025, the company achieved a revenue of 2.584 billion, a slight year-on-year decrease of 0.02%, while the net profit attributable to shareholders was 104 million, a year-on-year increase of 102.68% [1] Operational Developments - The company has expanded its lithium chemical product capacity to over 120,000 tons, with Greenbushes currently having a total lithium concentrate capacity of approximately 1.62 million tons per year [2] - In 2024, the company produced 1.41 million tons of lithium concentrate, including 1.353 million tons of chemical-grade lithium concentrate and 57,000 tons of technical-grade lithium concentrate [2] - The construction of key projects is progressing steadily, with the chemical-grade plant No. 3's dry processing facility completed, and the wet processing facility construction is set to advance in the first half of 2025 [2] Investment Outlook - The company forecasts net profits attributable to shareholders of 1.768 billion, 3.176 billion, and 5.150 billion for 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively, corresponding to price-to-earnings ratios of 27, 15, and 9 times [3]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for Tianqi Lithium Industries is "Buy" (maintained) [1] Core Views - The company reported an improvement in profitability in Q1, with ongoing expansion in resource capacity [1] - For 2024, the company expects revenue of 13.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 68%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of -7.9 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 208% [1] - The main reasons for the profitability improvement include a shortened pricing cycle for lithium ore and the resolution of tax disputes impacting net profit [1] - The company is expanding its resource capacity, with planned lithium chemical product capacity exceeding 120,000 tons [2] - The company is expected to achieve net profits of 1.768 billion yuan in 2025, with corresponding P/E ratios of 27, 15, and 9 for the years 2025, 2026, and 2027 respectively [3] Financial Performance Summary - For 2024, the company anticipates revenue of 13.063 billion yuan, with a year-on-year decline of 67.7% [5] - The net profit attributable to shareholders is projected to be -7.905 billion yuan for 2024, with a year-on-year decline of 208.3% [5] - The gross margin is expected to be 46.1% in 2024, improving to 50.2% by 2027 [5] - The company’s return on equity (ROE) is projected to recover from -18.9% in 2024 to 9.9% in 2027 [5] - Earnings per share (EPS) is expected to turn positive, reaching 3.14 yuan by 2027 [5]

Investment Rating - The investment rating for Tianqi Lithium Industries is "Buy" (maintained) [1] Core Views - The company reported an improvement in profitability in Q1, with continued expansion on the resource side [1] - For 2024, the company expects revenue of 13.1 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 68%, and a net profit attributable to shareholders of -7.9 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 208% [1] - The main reasons for the improvement in profitability include a shortened pricing cycle for lithium ore and the resolution of tax disputes impacting net profit [1] - The company plans to expand its lithium chemical product capacity to over 120,000 tons [2] - The projected net profits for 2025-2027 are 1.768 billion, 3.176 billion, and 5.150 billion yuan, respectively, with corresponding PE ratios of 27, 15, and 9 [3] Financial Performance Summary - For 2024, the company expects revenue of 13.063 billion yuan, with a year-on-year decline of 67.7% [5] - The net profit attributable to shareholders is projected to be -7.905 billion yuan for 2024, with a year-on-year decline of 208.3% [5] - The gross margin is expected to be 46.1% in 2024, improving to 50.2% by 2027 [5] - The company anticipates a return on equity (ROE) of -18.9% in 2024, improving to 9.9% by 2027 [5] - The earnings per share (EPS) is projected to be -4.82 yuan in 2024, increasing to 3.14 yuan by 2027 [5]

Summary of Tianqi Lithium's Conference Call Company Overview - **Company**: Tianqi Lithium - **Industry**: Lithium Industry Key Points and Arguments Financial Performance - In Q1 2025, the company achieved a net profit attributable to shareholders of 104 million yuan, a year-on-year increase of 102.68% [3] - The operating cash flow reached 952 million yuan, indicating robust cash flow performance [3] - The company's net profit after deducting non-recurring items was 44.42 million yuan [2][3] Factors Contributing to Performance Improvement - The improvement in performance is attributed to optimized supply chain management and a shortened lithium ore pricing cycle, which mitigated the impact of pricing mechanism mismatches [2][4] - The cost of chemical-grade lithium concentrate has approached the latest procurement prices due to new lithium spodumene purchases and inventory digestion [2][4] - The production capacity ramp-up and technological upgrades at self-owned factories contributed to a year-on-year increase in lithium compounds and derivatives production and sales [2][5] SQM Investment Impact - The tax dispute resolution with SQM has been confirmed for the 2024 fiscal year, with a positive impact on Tianqi's profits due to increased investment returns from SQM [2][6] Procurement and Pricing Strategy - The current procurement price for lithium ore from Talison is approximately 700 to 750 yuan, based on a weighted average of data from four pricing agencies [2][7] - Despite recent declines in lithium ore prices, Talison's cost advantages remain significant, with cash costs showing little change [2][8] Inventory and Sales Strategy - The average inventory cost has decreased to around 700 to 800 yuan, aligning with current market procurement prices [2][9] - The company employs a long-term sales strategy, maintaining good relationships with downstream customers and adjusting pricing based on market conditions [2][13][14] Industry Challenges and Opportunities - The lithium industry is facing challenges due to lower prices, but domestic production remains stable, with Talison maintaining cost advantages [2][21] - The decline in lithium prices may accelerate market clearing, benefiting cost-advantaged companies [2][22] Future Production Expectations - Overall production is expected to increase steadily, with new projects anticipated to ramp up significantly by 2026 [2][18] - The first phase of the Kwinana project has seen some production improvements, but overall capacity utilization has not yet met expectations [2][19] Strategic Focus - The company continues to focus on strengthening upstream resources while maintaining a balanced approach across upstream, midstream, and downstream operations [2][31][33] - There is an emphasis on enhancing downstream strategies due to perceived weaknesses in that area over the past few years [2][33] Market Outlook - The company remains focused on long-term demand and industry growth, despite short-term price fluctuations influenced by external factors [2][34] - The company is prepared for potential futures trading but is waiting for favorable market conditions to proceed [2][24] Additional Notes - The company has no immediate plans for production maintenance during the Spring Festival, but regular safety inspections are conducted annually [2][35]

| 截至月份: | 2025年4月30日 | | | | | 狀態: | 新提交 | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 致：香港交易及結算所有限公司 | | | | | | | | | | 公司名稱: | 天齊鋰業股份有限公司 | | | | | | | | | 呈交日期: | 2025年5月6日 | | | | | | | | | I. 法定/註冊股本變動 | 不適用 | | | | | | | | | 股份分類 1. | 普通股 | 股份類別 | H | | 於香港聯交所上市 | 是 (註1) | | + | | 證券代號 (如上市) | 09696 | 說明 | | | | | | | | 增加多櫃檯證券代號 | | | | | | | | | | 手動填寫 | | 法定/註冊股份數目 | | | 面值 | | 法定/註冊股本 | | | 上月底結存 | | | 164,122,200 | RMB | | 1 RMB | | 164,122,200 | | 增加 / 減少 (-) | | | | 0 | | RMB | ...

| THE BELL | | | 碳 锌 8 评20250506:国内碳酸锂5月供给预期偏松,三元材料厂库存量较上周减少 | | | | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | | | 交易日期(日) | 2025-04-30 | 2025-04-29 | 2025-04-24 | 较昨日变化 | 近两周走势 | | | 近月合约 | 收盘价 | 65680.00 | 66100.00 | 68380.00 | -420.00 | | | | 连一合约 | 收盘价 | 65880.00 | 66240.00 | 68340.00 | -360.00 | | | | 连二合约 | 收盘价 | 67060.00 | 67460.00 | 68300.00 | -400.00 | | | | 连三合约 | 收盘价 | 67060.00 | 67460.00 | 69400.00 | -400.00 | | | | | 收盘价 | 65960.00 | 66260.00 | 68300.00 | -300.00 | | | 砖酸包期货 | 活跃合约 ...

Core Viewpoint - The lithium industry is experiencing significant fluctuations, with Tianqi Lithium achieving a turnaround in Q1 2024 while Ganfeng Lithium continues to face losses, highlighting divergent strategies in a challenging market environment [1][2][10][11]. Group 1: Company Performance - Tianqi Lithium reported Q1 2024 revenue of 2.584 billion yuan, a slight decrease of 0.02% year-on-year, and a net profit of 104 million yuan, marking a turnaround from a loss of 3.897 billion yuan in the same period last year [1]. - Ganfeng Lithium's Q1 2024 revenue was 3.772 billion yuan, down 25.43% year-on-year, with a net loss of 356 million yuan, although the loss narrowed from 439 million yuan in the previous year [1][5]. - In 2023, Tianqi Lithium faced a significant revenue drop of 67.75%, with a net loss of 7.905 billion yuan, while Ganfeng Lithium's revenue decreased by 42.66%, resulting in a net loss of 2.074 billion yuan, marking its first annual loss since 2010 [2]. Group 2: Factors Influencing Performance - Tianqi Lithium's Q1 2024 performance improvement is attributed to the resolution of several adverse factors affecting its 2024 results, including better pricing mechanisms for lithium concentrate and reduced production costs [3][4]. - The company also benefited from increased investment income from its associate SQM, which is expected to show year-on-year growth [4]. - Ganfeng Lithium did not disclose specific reasons for its continued losses in Q1 2024, but it indicated that the current lithium prices are likely at a relatively low point [5][6]. Group 3: Market Conditions - The lithium market is currently facing oversupply issues, with lithium prices continuing to decline, impacting the financial health of lithium salt manufacturers [7][9]. - As of April 30, 2024, the average price of battery-grade lithium carbonate fell to 67,900 yuan per ton, a drop of over 9% since the beginning of the year, which has affected cash flow for companies like Ganfeng Lithium [8]. - The industry is expected to see continued oversupply, with significant production increases anticipated in 2025, further pressuring prices [9]. Group 4: Strategic Directions - Tianqi Lithium is focusing on a long-term strategy of strengthening its upstream resources and expanding its midstream production capabilities, aiming for vertical integration in the lithium supply chain [10]. - Ganfeng Lithium is shifting its revenue focus towards lithium battery manufacturing, with a notable increase in the contribution of battery products to its overall revenue [11]. - The company is currently emphasizing its energy storage segment, which faces challenges due to significant overcapacity in the market [12].

| 华泰研究 | | | 季报点评 | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2025 年 | 5 月 | 02 日│中国内地/中国香港 | 稀有金属 | 天齐锂业发布一季报，2025 年 Q1 实现营收 25.84 亿元（yoy-0.02%、 qoq-13.82%），归母净利 1.04 亿元（yoy+102.68%、qoq+104.73%），扣 非净利 4442.55 万元（yoy+101.13%）。存货错配影响减弱,公司一季度业绩 修复明显,考虑公司 24 年存在的不利因素已逐步消除,且公司旗下资源禀赋 优异,未来矿端成本优势依旧突出,我们维持增持评级. 成本错配情况明显缓解，公司一季度盈利能力环比明显修复 证券研究报告 天齐锂业 (9696 HK/002466 CH) 公司一季度业绩实现明显修复 25Q1 公司综合毛利率、净利率分别为 44.31%/30.28%，同比分别-4.08pct、 +62.41pct，环比分别+8.16pct/+89.08pct。毛利率和净利率环比提升主因公 司控股子公司锂矿定价周期缩短，成本错配影响大幅减弱，且锂化合物及衍 生品产销量同比增长，联营公司投资收 ...