Summary of Zhongmin Resources Conference Call Company Overview - Zhongmin Resources has experienced rapid growth in revenue and profit in the first half of the year, with significant contributions from the tax sector, which saw revenue increase from over 100 million in 2019 to 1.4 billion last year, continuing to grow rapidly [2][3] Key Points Financial Performance - The company reported a gross profit contribution of nearly 500 million in the first half of the year [3] - The formic acid rental and sales business achieved a record revenue of 90 million USD last year, with expectations for good demand this year, maintaining a business scale between 60 million to 80 million USD [2][3] - Fine chemical business has been growing at approximately 20% annually, with future market growth expected to reach around 20% [2][4] Project Updates - The Namibia smelting project incurred a loss of 200 million due to copper smelting processing orders, with the first production line expected to be completed in October [2][5] - The first production line for germanium has a capacity of 15 tons, accounting for half of the planned capacity, with a second line of 18 tons expected to be completed by 2026 [7][8] - The Zambia Semibian copper mine project is progressing smoothly, with mining and processing engineering already underway, expected to start production in the second half of 2026 [9][10] Challenges and Strategic Adjustments - The copper processing fee is low, posing challenges for the Namibia project, which needs to enhance construction and operational efficiency to improve profitability [6] - The company has paused chemical-grade lithium production at the Zimbabwe Bishan lithium mine, focusing on technical-grade products for the ceramics industry, with plans to resume large-scale production after the lithium sulfate project is completed [15] Future Plans - Zhongmin Resources aims to scale its copper segment to 100,000 tons within 3 to 5 years, with the Carton project planned for a capacity of 60,000 tons [12] - The company is fully transitioning to mineral development in Africa, focusing on its own exploration and project evaluation [12][14] - The company plans to expand its integrated capacity to 100,000 tons in Africa, with new capacity expected from existing mines and acquisitions [23] Market Outlook - The color milk product has a stable gross margin of about 70%, with potential price adjustments planned for 2026 [17][18] - The company produced approximately 18,000 tons of lithium salt and sold 35,000 tons of lithium spodumene in the first half of the year, with sales expected to reach between 45,000 to 50,000 tons in the second half [18][19] - The lithium sulfate factory project in Zimbabwe is currently on hold due to low market prices, with plans to resume construction when market conditions improve [21] Additional Insights - The company is actively exploring opportunities in multi-metal resources beyond existing metal types, focusing on valuable non-ferrous metals [24] This summary encapsulates the key developments and strategic directions of Zhongmin Resources as discussed in the conference call, highlighting financial performance, project updates, challenges, and future plans.

Investment Rating - The investment rating for the company is "Buy" and is maintained [6]. Core Views - The company's profitability is pressured by declining lithium prices, with a focus on the potential growth of small metals and copper resources [4][9]. - In Q2 2025, the company reported a net profit attributable to shareholders of -0.46 billion yuan, a year-on-year decrease of 121% and a quarter-on-quarter decrease of 134% [2][4]. - The company is diversifying its metal resources, with steady development in lithium and rubidium-cesium segments, while accelerating the expansion into gallium, germanium, and copper [9]. Financial Performance - In H1 2025, the company achieved lithium salt sales of 17,900 tons, a year-on-year increase of 6.37%, and began direct sales of self-produced lithium concentrate, with sales of 34,800 tons [9]. - The rubidium-cesium segment generated revenue of 708 million yuan in H1 2025, a year-on-year increase of 50.43%, with a gross profit of approximately 511 million yuan, also up by 50.15% [9]. - The copper smelting business faced a net profit loss of approximately 200 million yuan due to a significant decline in industry processing fees [9]. Future Outlook - The company is advancing its lithium sulfate project in Africa and enhancing resource utilization efficiency at the Tanco mine in Canada [9]. - A lithium salt technical transformation project commenced in June 2025, expected to increase smelting capacity by 5,000 tons while reducing costs [9]. - The copper segment is progressing with the Kitumba copper mine project, with initial design work completed and construction underway [9].

Core Viewpoint - The rare metals sector is experiencing a mixed performance, with recent regulatory changes and supply-demand dynamics influencing market trends [1][4][5]. Group 1: Market Performance - As of September 16, 2025, the China Securities Rare Metals Theme Index has decreased by 2.23%, with leading stocks such as Guangsheng Nonferrous Metals and Northern Rare Earths showing declines [1]. - The Rare Metals ETF (562800) has seen a 13.27% increase over the past month, indicating a strong recovery trend [1]. - The Rare Metals ETF has achieved a record high in scale, reaching 2.735 billion yuan, and a record high in shares at 3.558 billion, leading among comparable funds [4]. Group 2: Trading Activity - The Rare Metals ETF recorded an intraday turnover of 8.19%, with a transaction volume of 218 million yuan [4]. - Over the past week, the ETF has maintained an average daily transaction volume of 230 million yuan, ranking first among comparable funds [4]. - The ETF has seen a net inflow of 231 million yuan recently, with three out of the last five trading days showing positive net inflows totaling 304 million yuan [4]. Group 3: Supply and Demand Dynamics - The supply side remains tight, with upstream raw ore separation enterprises maintaining stable operations, although some face reduced operating rates due to raw material supply constraints [5]. - Demand from downstream magnetic material companies remains strong, with major manufacturers maintaining high operating rates and sufficient order reserves [5]. - Recent data indicates a 3.4% month-on-month decrease in China's rare earth exports in August, while export value increased by 51%, reflecting a "volume decrease, price increase" trend [4]. Group 4: Key Stocks - The top ten weighted stocks in the rare metals index account for 57.58% of the total index, with Northern Rare Earths and Luoyang Molybdenum being the most significant contributors [5]. - Notable declines in stock prices include Northern Rare Earths down by 3.98% and Guangsheng Nonferrous Metals down by 1.66% [7].

证券之星消息，9月15日小金属板块较上一交易日下跌2.12%，章源钨业领跌。当日上证指数报收于 3860.5，下跌0.26%。深证成指报收于13005.77，上涨0.63%。小金属板块个股涨跌见下表： | 代码 | 名称 | 收盘价 | 涨跌幅 | 成交量(手) | 成交额(元) | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 002738 | 中矿资源 | 43.49 | 2.86% | 27.33万 | | 11.96亿 | | 000831 | 中国稀土 | 56.54 | 0.12% | 81.59万 | | 45.88 乙 | | 688750 | 金天钛业 | 22.21 | 0.09% | 4.41万 | | 9706.65万 | | 002182 | 宝武镁业 | 15.52 | -0.39% | 68.08万 | | 10.73亿 | | 600392 | 盛和盗源 | 22.74 | -1.39% | 81.93万 | | 18.73亿 | | 000962 | 东方银业 | 24.35 | -1.42% | 22.18万 | | 5.3 ...

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Accumulate" rating for the non-ferrous metals sector [5]. Core Insights - The report highlights a continuous increase in the prices of various metals, particularly electrolytic cobalt and polysilicon, while lithium concentrate prices have seen a decline. This indicates a mixed outlook for different segments within the new materials industry [1][2][4]. Summary by Relevant Sections Non-Ferrous Metals - Electrolytic cobalt price is at 271,000 CNY/ton, up 3.0% week-on-week, with a price ratio of electrolytic cobalt to cobalt powder at 0.87, up 1.4% [1][10]. - Lithium concentrate (Li2O 5%) price is at 700 USD/ton, down 3.58% week-on-week [1]. - The price of lithium iron phosphate and 523-type cathode materials is stable at 343,000 CNY/ton and 1,147,000 CNY/ton, respectively [1]. Photovoltaic New Materials - Polysilicon price is at 6.45 USD/kg, up 4.0% week-on-week, indicating a recovery in the solar materials market [2]. - EVA price remains stable at 10,800 CNY/ton, reflecting a low position since 2013 [2]. Nuclear Power New Materials - Uranium price is at 59.58 USD/lb, up 4.0% week-on-week, indicating a positive trend in nuclear materials [2]. Consumer Electronics New Materials - The price of cobalt tetroxide is at 214,200 CNY/ton, up 0.56% week-on-week, while lithium cobalt oxide price remains stable at 175.0 CNY/kg [3]. - Silicon carbide price is stable at 5,300 CNY/ton, reflecting steady demand in the electronics sector [3]. Investment Recommendations - The report suggests focusing on the metal new materials sector, particularly lithium and cobalt, due to price increases and supply disruptions. Companies like Salt Lake Co., Zangge Mining, and Huayou Cobalt are highlighted as potential investment opportunities [4].

Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the industry [9] Core Insights - The report emphasizes the recovery of the silver-gold ratio and the simultaneous rise in copper and aluminum prices due to both domestic and international factors [5][6] - Weak employment data in the U.S. has led to increased expectations for a 50 basis point rate cut in September, which is expected to boost precious metals [5][6] - The report suggests that while gold remains a focus for investment, the recovery of the silver-gold ratio indicates potential for silver as well [5][6] Summary by Sections Precious Metals - The report highlights the weak performance of the U.S. labor market and its implications for precious metals, particularly gold and silver [5][6] - It suggests that gold stocks may experience a quarterly-level resonance in terms of price, valuation, and style due to anticipated rate cuts [5][6] - For silver, the report advises attention to its potential to converge with gold as inflation expectations rise [5][6] Industrial Metals - Industrial metals have seen a broad increase, with LME copper rising by 1.7% and aluminum by 3.8% [6][27] - The report notes that domestic policies aimed at stabilizing growth are expected to enhance demand outlook [6] - It indicates that while demand for copper and aluminum may decline in the second half of the year, supply constraints will limit the extent of this decline [6] Strategic and Minor Metals - The report discusses the strategic reassessment of rare earths and tungsten, with a focus on their long-term value due to government policies and market dynamics [7] - It highlights the upward price trend for cobalt and nickel, driven by supply constraints and increasing demand in the battery sector [7] - The report also mentions the bottoming out of lithium prices, with a cautious outlook on future price movements [7]

Group 1 - The lithium carbonate market has experienced price fluctuations, with domestic spot prices falling to around 70,000 yuan per ton due to the resumption of production at the Jiangxiawo lithium mine and a decline in lithium carbonate futures prices [1] - In August, the Jiangxiawo lithium mine was temporarily shut down, leading to a significant decrease in lithium mica and its derived lithium carbonate production. However, the production of lithium carbonate from spodumene increased substantially, filling the supply gap [3] - Domestic lithium carbonate production reached 85,000 tons in August, a year-on-year increase of 39% and a month-on-month increase of 5%, driven by improved production enthusiasm from spodumene lithium extraction companies [3] Group 2 - Following the confirmation of the Jiangxiawo mine's shutdown on August 11, lithium carbonate futures contracts surged, leading to a significant increase in related stocks. Conversely, the announcement of the mine's resumption on September 10 caused a sharp decline in futures and stock prices, indicating a return to a "supply surplus" market condition [4] - Despite the short-term decline in lithium prices, the average price of lithium carbonate in the third quarter is significantly higher than in the second quarter, with an average price of 72,947.92 yuan per ton compared to 65,237.17 yuan per ton in the second quarter, reflecting an 11.82% increase [4] - Companies with stable production costs, such as salt lake enterprises, are expected to see a rebound in profitability in the third quarter due to rising lithium carbonate prices, although the impact on profitability may be limited due to their cost advantages [5] Group 3 - Spodumene lithium extraction companies, with production costs around 70,000 yuan per ton, are likely to achieve a turnaround in profitability for their lithium salt business in the third quarter, as the average price of lithium carbonate rises to 73,000 yuan per ton [6] - Some raw material self-sufficient spodumene lithium extraction companies still face significant operational pressure due to relatively low lithium prices, and the upcoming low-cost production capacity may further increase market supply pressure [6] - Salt Lake companies are planning to start trial production of a 40,000-ton-per-year lithium salt project by the end of September, which, combined with the potential resumption of the Jiangxiawo mine, raises questions about whether spot prices can maintain above 70,000 yuan per ton [6]

Core Insights - The rare metals theme index (930632) has shown a strong increase of 1.92% as of September 12, 2025, with notable gains in constituent stocks such as Yunlu Co., Ltd. (688190) up 6.05% and Dongfang Tantalum Industry (000962) up 5.82% [1] - The rare metals ETF (561800) has seen a weekly increase of 6.45%, ranking first among comparable funds [1] - Over the past year, the rare metals ETF has achieved a net value increase of 85.48%, with a maximum single-month return of 24.02% since its inception [4] Industry Analysis - The supply increase of lithium spodumene is effectively compensating for the shortfall in lithium mica, leading to a marginal growth in domestic production and a return of lithium prices to fundamentals [4] - The cobalt sector is experiencing structural price increases, with a potential short-term benefit from improving demand as the peak demand season approaches [4] - The rare earth industry is undergoing significant supply-side reforms, with a notable increase in magnetic material exports, which rose by 75% month-on-month and 6% year-on-year [4] - The rare earth sector is expected to continue evolving with both valuation and performance improvements due to price increases, supply reforms, and strategic attributes of the sector [4] Key Stocks - As of August 29, 2025, the top ten weighted stocks in the rare metals theme index account for 57.58% of the index, including Northern Rare Earth (600111) and Luoyang Molybdenum (603993) [5] - The top stocks by weight include Salt Lake Co. (000792) at 8.52% and Northern Rare Earth (600111) at 8.49% [7] - The rare metals ETF (561800) serves as an effective investment tool for investors looking to gain exposure to the rare metals industry [7]

Core Viewpoint - Zhongkuang Resources has shown significant stock performance with a year-to-date increase of 21.40% and a recent surge of 47.23% over the past 60 days, indicating strong market interest and potential growth in the rare metal sector [1][2]. Financial Performance - For the first half of 2025, Zhongkuang Resources reported a revenue of 3.267 billion yuan, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 34.89%. However, the net profit attributable to shareholders decreased by 81.16% to 89.129 million yuan [2]. - The company has distributed a total of 1.728 billion yuan in dividends since its A-share listing, with 1.592 billion yuan distributed over the past three years [3]. Shareholder and Market Activity - As of June 30, 2025, the number of shareholders increased to 65,900, with an average of 10,786 circulating shares per person, a decrease of 3.67% from the previous period [2]. - The stock's trading activity showed a net outflow of 7.5865 million yuan from major funds, with significant buying and selling activity from large orders [1]. Company Overview - Zhongkuang Resources, established on June 2, 1999, and listed on December 30, 2014, is based in Beijing and specializes in the development and utilization of rare light metal resources, geological exploration services, mineral rights investment, international mineral trade, and engineering [1]. - The company's main revenue sources include product sales (71.26%), other income (18.70%), operating leases (9.22%), and service provision (0.82%) [1]. Institutional Holdings - As of June 30, 2025, Hong Kong Central Clearing Limited is the third-largest circulating shareholder with 16.4078 million shares, an increase of 786,000 shares from the previous period. Other notable shareholders include the Oriental New Energy Theme Mixed Fund and the Southern CSI 500 ETF [3].

Core Viewpoint - The industrial metal sector in A-share listed companies has shown overall profit improvement as of the first half of 2025, with many companies reporting a turnaround from losses to profits or an increase in profits compared to the previous year [1] Group 1: Profit Improvement - Among the 23 selected industrial metal companies, 8 companies reported both revenue and profit growth, including Northern Rare Earth, Dongfang Tantalum, and others [1] - 7 companies turned losses into profits, such as China Rare Earth, Yunnan Germanium, and others, with notable profit recoveries [1] - China Rare Earth's net profit improved from a loss of 244 million yuan in H1 2024 to a profit of 162 million yuan in H1 2025 [2] - Yunnan Germanium's net profit shifted from a loss of 9 million yuan to a profit of 22 million yuan [2] - Shenghe Resources reported a net profit turnaround from a loss of 69 million yuan to a profit of 377 million yuan [2] Group 2: Revenue and Profit Decline - Companies such as Western Materials, Baotai Co., and Jintian Titanium reported declines in both revenue and profit [2][8] - Western Materials' revenue decreased by 0.35% to 1.539 billion yuan, with a net profit drop of 36.03% to 61.16 million yuan [3][8] - Baotai Co. saw a 20.45% decline in revenue to 2.967 billion yuan and a 49% drop in net profit to 205 million yuan [8] - Jintian Titanium's revenue fell by 22.38% to 318 million yuan, with a net profit decrease of 49.71% to 40.53 million yuan [8] Group 3: Mixed Performance - Companies like Zhongkuang Resources, Xiamen Tungsten, and others experienced revenue growth but profit declines [4][5] - Zhongkuang Resources' revenue increased by 34.89% to 3.267 billion yuan, but net profit plummeted by 81.16% to 89.13 million yuan [6][7] - Xiamen Tungsten's revenue decreased by 4.37% to 972 million yuan, with a net profit decline of 46.47% to 64.12 million yuan [5][6] - Baowu Magnesium's net profit fell by 46.47% despite revenue growth [7]