Zhi Tong Cai Jing·2025-11-19 09:01Core Viewpoint - Lithium hexafluorophosphate is a key raw material for electrolytes, significantly impacting battery energy density, fast charging performance, and safety stability [2][3] Supply and Demand Analysis - The demand for lithium hexafluorophosphate has surged due to the explosive growth in the downstream electric vehicle and energy storage industries, leading to a significant increase in procurement by electrolyte manufacturers [2] - Despite leading companies operating at full capacity, the overall supply remains tight due to the industry clearing caused by previous years of overcapacity, making it difficult for many small and medium-sized enterprises to quickly resume production [2] - As of November 17, 2025, the price of lithium hexafluorophosphate has risen to 160,000 yuan/ton, more than tripling from the price bottom of 50,000 yuan/ton in July 2025, with potential for further price increases as market supply tightness may persist until 2026 [2][3] Price Trends of Additives - The explosive demand for energy storage has also driven up the price of an important additive in electrolytes, vinylene carbonate (VC), which has increased to 60,000 yuan/ton, representing a more than 30% rise from its bottom price [3] - The new production capacity for VC takes approximately 12 months to establish, while the resumption of idle production lines requires 3-4 months, indicating that short-term supply cannot quickly fill the gap [3] - VC is characterized by high entry barriers due to its heavy asset nature, and companies in the industry have been cautious about expanding production after years of losses, with the average price expected to reach 100,000 yuan/ton by 2026 [3] Investment Recommendations - Companies to watch in the lithium hexafluorophosphate supply chain include Tianji Co., Ltd. (002759.SZ), Tianci Materials (002709.SZ), Xinzhou Bang (300037.SZ), Shenzhen New Star (603978.SH), and Duofluor (002407.SZ) [2] - For VC, recommended companies include Huasheng Lithium Battery (688353.SH), Haike New Source (301292.SZ), Lianhong Technology, and Taihe Technology (300801.SZ) [3]