Core Viewpoint - The non-ferrous metals industry is expected to stabilize after hitting bottom in 2024, with a new upward cycle anticipated in 2025 due to macroeconomic improvements, supply chain disruptions, and liquidity easing from the Federal Reserve's interest rate cuts [1] Group 1: Precious Metals - The bull market for gold is likely to continue, driven by the Federal Reserve's ongoing interest rate cuts and potential balance sheet expansion, which will increase global gold ETF purchases and push up gold prices [1] - The acceleration of U.S. debt growth and potential challenges to the Federal Reserve's independence may exacerbate U.S. credit issues, prompting global central banks and private investors to increase gold holdings [1] Group 2: Industrial Metals - The narrative around copper supply constraints continues, with limited new copper mining projects and concentrated smelting capacity, leading to persistent supply tightness [2] - Demand for copper is expected to improve due to reduced pressure from traditional sectors and structural demand growth from the energy transition and data centers, resulting in a favorable supply-demand balance [2] Group 3: Energy Metals - The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a key supplier of cobalt, is implementing annual export quotas, which will create a supply gap as new projects in Indonesia cannot fully compensate [3] - The demand for cobalt is anticipated to rise due to the high-end electric vehicle market and recovery in consumer electronics, with a widening supply-demand gap expected by 2025-2026 [3] Group 4: Rare Metals - The strategic value of rare earths is increasing, with stable long-term demand from traditional sectors and emerging needs from robotics and low-altitude economies [4] - Domestic supply controls are tightening, enhancing industry concentration and strengthening the global monopoly position of China's rare earth industry, leading to a steady increase in rare earth prices [4] Investment Recommendations - Gold prices are expected to rise due to increased purchases by global central banks and investors, with a recommendation for China National Gold Group (600489) [4] - Copper prices are projected to continue rising due to supply constraints and new demand from AI data centers, recommending Zijin Mining (601899) and Luoyang Molybdenum (603993) [4] - Cobalt prices are set to increase due to supply restrictions from the DRC, recommending Huayou Cobalt (603799) [4] - Rare earth prices are expected to stabilize and improve profitability for companies in the sector, recommending Northern Rare Earth (600111) [4]
中国银河证券:有色金属进入新一轮上行周期 行业景气上行行情有望延续