Zijin Mining(SH:601899) Di Yi Cai Jing·2026-01-04 08:50Core Insights - The non-ferrous metal sector achieved a historic breakthrough in 2025, with an annual increase of 94.73%, topping the A-share industry growth rankings for the first time, surpassing the communication sector by 10 percentage points [1][2] - The sector's performance was broad-based, with 44 stocks doubling in value, marking it as one of the most notable themes in the A-share market [1] - The focus is now on whether the non-ferrous metal sector can maintain its strength and become a source of excess returns in 2026 amid rising global tensions, ongoing central bank gold purchases, and sustained demand for new energy [1][2] Market Performance - The A-share market experienced a bull market in 2025, with the non-ferrous metal sector outperforming communication and electronics, achieving an average stock increase of 76.53% [2] - Precious metals, particularly gold and silver, led the charge, while industrial metals like copper and aluminum showed resilience due to supply constraints and growing demand [2][3] - The sector broke a historical record, as it had never topped the annual growth rankings since 2000, despite previously ranking second twice [2] Supply and Demand Dynamics - The copper market is facing a new supply-demand landscape, with long-term capital expenditure constraints leading to potential zero or negative growth in global copper supply [3] - Demand for copper is bolstered by factors such as AI expansion and accelerated investments in the U.S. power grid, creating a widening supply-demand gap [3] - Silver's industrial demand, particularly in photovoltaic and electric vehicle sectors, is expected to provide strong support for its price [3] Challenges and Differentiation - The high valuations in the non-ferrous metal industry pose a challenge for continued price increases, with the index closing at a historical high of 8408.59 points by the end of 2025, just 7.4% below the 2007 peak [4] - The sector has historically shown volatility, with no consecutive years of top-five growth rankings since 2000, indicating a tendency for adjustments following periods of strong performance [4] - Institutions predict that 2026 will present multiple structural opportunities within the sector, but differentiation among sub-sectors will become more pronounced [4][5] Investment Opportunities - Investment strategies are shifting from "cyclical frenzy" to "structural opportunities," emphasizing the need to focus on leading companies with quality resources and cost advantages [5][6] - For instance, Zijin Mining expects a net profit of approximately 510-520 billion yuan for 2025, a year-on-year increase of about 59%-62%, with significant growth plans for key mineral outputs in 2026 [5] - Companies with strong resource reserves, cost advantages, and technological barriers are expected to demonstrate greater resilience amid industry fluctuations [6]