SINOLINK SECURITIES(SH:600109) Ge Long Hui·2025-10-18 09:18Core Viewpoint - The report highlights the significant performance of the non-ferrous metals sector in 2023, driven by supply constraints, inventory recovery, and financial factors, leading to a price increase of over 70% by October 14, 2025, making it the top-performing sector [1][24]. Group 1: Supply and Demand Dynamics - The current supply constraints in the non-ferrous metals sector are attributed to insufficient capital expenditure over the past decade, particularly in key metals like copper, tin, and rare earths, resulting in a significant decrease in supply elasticity [24]. - The inventory levels have been low, and the recovery in manufacturing, energy transition investments, and data center construction have led to a rebound in marginal demand, amplifying the effects of low inventory [24]. - The recent inventory replenishment cycle is closely linked to domestic countermeasures against tariffs, particularly affecting minor metals like antimony and rare earths, which have seen significant price increases due to supply dependencies [24][25]. Group 2: Macroeconomic Influences - The macroeconomic landscape is shifting, with the service sector showing signs of weakening while the manufacturing sector is in early recovery, suggesting a potential increase in metal demand as manufacturing activities strengthen [3][15]. - The anticipated easing of interest rates by the Federal Reserve is expected to release pent-up manufacturing demand, leading to a more robust inventory replenishment cycle compared to the weak conditions observed in 2024 [3][15]. - The global economic structure is expected to transition towards a manufacturing-driven model, which could increase metal consumption significantly, with estimates suggesting an additional $1.09 trillion in resource consumption annually if manufacturing outpaces services [15][16]. Group 3: Financial Market Dynamics - The financial environment, characterized by expectations of interest rate cuts, has positively influenced precious metal prices and overall metal market sentiment, with a notable increase in investment flows into the non-ferrous metals sector [27]. - The interplay between supply constraints, inventory replenishment, and financial attributes has created a systemic recovery in the non-ferrous metals market, rather than a demand-driven increase alone [27]. - The valuation differences between overseas and Chinese non-ferrous metal stocks can be attributed to varying valuation methodologies and accounting practices, with overseas stocks generally showing higher valuations when using absolute valuation methods [29][33]. Group 4: Future Outlook - The future turning point for the non-ferrous metals sector may be driven by a global manufacturing cycle recovery, with a focus on leading indicators such as manufacturing PMI and the copper-gold ratio, which historically correlate with manufacturing activity [12]. - The demand for metals, particularly copper, is expected to surge due to the expansion of AI infrastructure, with projections indicating that AI-related developments could lead to an additional 142,000 tons of copper demand over the next five years [44]. - The overall supply-demand balance for non-ferrous metals is anticipated to remain tight, with structural constraints on supply and moderate demand growth, particularly for copper and aluminum, which are expected to see price increases due to ongoing infrastructure investments [37].