天际股份：小家电跨界新能源，“拿来主义”的“蜜糖与砒霜”

Core Viewpoint - Tianji Co., Ltd. has faced significant financial losses in the lithium hexafluorophosphate industry, reporting a loss of nearly 1.4 billion yuan in 2024, with no signs of recovery in early 2025 [1][6]. Company Background - Established in 1996 in Shantou, Guangdong, Tianji Co., Ltd. initially focused on small household appliances, achieving revenue of 500 million yuan and a profit of 80 million yuan by 2015 [2]. - In 2016, the company acquired Jiangsu Xintai Materials for 2.7 billion yuan, entering the lithium-ion battery materials sector, aiming for a dual business model of "appliances + lithium-ion battery materials" [2][3]. Industry Position and Growth - The company has built an annual production capacity of 37,000 tons of lithium hexafluorophosphate, ranking third in the industry, behind Tianqi Lithium and Dongfang Special Steel [3]. - Revenue from lithium hexafluorophosphate reached 2.858 billion yuan in 2022, accounting for 87.29% of total revenue, marking over fivefold growth since its IPO [3]. Recent Acquisitions and Strategy - In 2023, Tianji Co., Ltd. acquired 100% of Xinte Chemical for 460 million yuan, diversifying into the phosphorus chemical sector [4]. - The acquisition aimed to enhance the product matrix and extend the company's presence in the chemical industry [4]. Financial Performance - In 2023, the company reported revenue of 2.193 billion yuan, a decline of over 33%, with net profit plummeting by 93% to 36.64 million yuan [5]. - By 2024, revenue further decreased to 2.055 billion yuan, with a net loss of 1.361 billion yuan [6]. Market Challenges - The decline in profitability is attributed to oversupply in the lithium battery materials market, leading to a drastic drop in product prices [7]. - The average selling price of lithium hexafluorophosphate fell by 50.04% in 2024, despite a 70% increase in sales volume [7]. Profitability Issues - The company's gross margin has sharply declined from 62.26% in 2021 to -12.04% in 2024, indicating that products are being sold at a loss [8][9]. - In contrast, competitors like Dongfang Special Steel and Tianqi Lithium maintained positive gross margins despite similar market pressures [9][10]. Future Outlook - The industry is unlikely to return to its 2021 peak due to completed penetration of the electric vehicle market and ongoing oversupply issues [13]. - The company faces significant challenges in improving management and technical capabilities to recover profitability [14][15].