Tai Mei Ti A P P·2025-05-22 05:44Core Viewpoint - The lithium industry is currently experiencing a downturn, but leading companies like Tianqi Lithium remain attractive to investors despite the challenges posed by falling lithium salt prices and increased competition [1][2]. Industry Overview - The lithium salt prices have significantly declined, with current prices ranging from 70,000 to 110,000 yuan per ton, down nearly 90% from the peak of 600,000 yuan per ton at the end of 2022, and a 40% decrease compared to the same period last year [1]. - The oversupply in the lithium market began in 2023 due to rapid capacity expansion driven by the price surge in 2021 and 2022, leading to increased competition and pressure on profitability across the industry [1][2]. Company Performance - Tianqi Lithium has managed to turn a profit in the first quarter of 2024, reporting revenue of 2.584 billion yuan and a net profit of 104 million yuan [4]. - The company emphasizes cost reduction, quality improvement, and efficiency enhancement as key strategies to navigate the current market conditions [4]. Resource Management - Tianqi Lithium is unique in the industry for having a 100% self-sufficiency rate in lithium resources, with significant operations in both hard rock lithium and salt lake brine resources [5]. - The Greenbushes lithium spodumene mine in Australia is projected to have a total mining volume of 3.404 million tons in 2024, with a chemical-grade ore extraction of 3.064 million tons at an average grade of 2.1% [5]. - The company is also developing the Zola lithium spodumene mine in Sichuan, which has lithium resources equivalent to 632,400 tons of lithium carbonate [5]. Strategic Initiatives - Tianqi Lithium is actively exploring global lithium resource projects while considering economic feasibility, resource endowment, development costs, and local political environments [6]. - The company is also focused on research and development in next-generation battery materials, including solid-state batteries, and has made significant progress in the industrialization of lithium sulfide, a key material for solid-state batteries [8]. Future Outlook - The company remains optimistic about the long-term growth potential of the lithium battery industry, driven by the demand from electric vehicles and energy storage markets, as well as emerging applications in low-altitude flying vehicles and drones [6][7].