智通财经网·2025-12-06 07:24Core Viewpoint - The report from CITIC Securities indicates that the inventory turning point has emerged since mid-November, combined with rising expectations for interest rate cuts and domestic production reductions, leading to a forecast that LME copper prices may accelerate towards $12,000 per ton by the end of the year [1] Group 1: Inventory and Price Forecast - The inventory turning point will support the acceleration of copper prices towards $12,000 per ton by year-end [1] - Current high inventory levels are primarily influenced by COMEX hoarding, while LME and domestic inventories are not excessively high [1] - The expected decline in domestic inventory consumption days to below the five-year average (<10 days) will further support price increases during the year-end period [1] Group 2: Supply and Demand Dynamics - The combination of "U.S. copper hoarding" and "domestic production cuts" is expected to significantly widen the supply gap by 60% to 450,000 tons in 2026 [2] - Uncertainty in tariff policies and the rapid development of AI are driving continued U.S. copper hoarding, with a projected increase in copper demand from infrastructure and energy sectors [2] - Domestic production cuts are anticipated to significantly reduce overall production growth next year, despite an increase in recycled copper supply [3] Group 3: Long-term Price Outlook - The forecasted price of $12,000 per ton is seen as both a safety net for long-term supply and a potential new upward elastic point [4] - The increase in exploration costs and investment intensity for new projects supports the upward price target of $12,000 per ton [4] - Historical trends in global apparent inventory changes suggest a strong potential for price increases in the coming year, similar to past market behaviors [4]