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铁锂行业深度报告【勘误版】:铁锂反转临界点已至,高端产品迭代强化龙头优势
东吴证券·2024-11-29 10:13

Industry Investment Rating - The report maintains a positive outlook on the lithium iron phosphate (LFP) industry, indicating that the industry has reached a turning point with a potential reversal in profitability [4] Core Views - The LFP industry is at a critical inflection point, with high-end product iterations strengthening the competitive advantages of leading companies [3] - Domestic electrification and overseas energy storage demand have exceeded expectations, leading to a significant recovery in LFP capacity utilization [3] - The processing fees for LFP have limited room for further decline, and profitability is expected to rebound in the near future [4] High-End Product Trends - High-end LFP products with higher compaction density are becoming the industry trend, with leading companies like Hunan Yuneng achieving a compaction density of 2.652 g/cm³, which improves performance significantly [23] - The market share of high-end LFP products is expected to increase from 30% to 40-60% by next year, with higher processing fees and improved profitability [3][23] - Leading companies are adopting advanced secondary sintering processes, which provide a competitive edge in producing high-density LFP products [26] Demand Dynamics - Domestic LFP demand is driven by the penetration of LFP batteries into high-end vehicle models, with LFP battery costs being 10-20% lower than ternary batteries [10] - The energy storage market is growing rapidly, with LFP battery demand expected to increase by over 40% in 2024, driven by both domestic and international markets [38] - Overseas automakers are beginning to adopt LFP batteries for entry-level models, with major players like Volkswagen, Stellantis, and BMW planning to introduce LFP-based vehicles by 2025-2026 [40] Supply and Capacity Utilization - The LFP industry's capacity utilization rate has significantly recovered, reaching over 60% in September, with leading companies like Hunan Yuneng operating at full capacity [3] - The industry's capacity expansion has slowed down due to financing difficulties and low profitability, with new capacity additions expected to be limited in 2024 [50] - By 2025, the industry's capacity utilization rate is expected to exceed 60%, with peak utilization rates reaching 70% during high-demand periods [54] Competitive Landscape - Leading companies like Hunan Yuneng are gaining market share, with their share increasing to 33% in the first nine months of 2024, while smaller players are struggling to maintain production levels [61] - The pricing of LFP products is based on cost-plus models, with processing fees currently at historical lows, putting pressure on profitability for second-tier manufacturers [64] - Leading companies have significant cost advantages due to economies of scale and efficient cost management, with Hunan Yuneng maintaining profitability while others face losses [72] Profitability Outlook - The profitability of LFP manufacturers is expected to improve, with leading companies like Hunan Yuneng projected to achieve a net profit of 0.2-0.3 million RMB per ton by 2024 [4] - High-end products with higher compaction density offer a premium of 1-3k RMB per ton, contributing to improved profitability for leading companies [30] - The industry is expected to reach a profitability inflection point by late 2024 or early 2025, driven by improved capacity utilization and potential price increases [77] Leading Company Analysis: Hunan Yuneng - Hunan Yuneng is expected to achieve a production capacity of 70+ million tons in 2024, with a 40% year-on-year growth in shipments [80] - The company's high-end products, such as the CN-5 and YN-9 series, account for 30% of total sales, with this proportion expected to increase to 40-60% by 2025 [83] - Hunan Yuneng's integration of phosphorus resources and recycling is expected to further enhance profitability, with phosphorus mining contributing an additional 200 RMB per ton of LFP by 2025 [90] Investment Recommendation - Hunan Yuneng is expected to achieve a net profit of 2.2 billion RMB in 2025, driven by increased shipments of high-end products and improved profitability [94] - The company is recommended as a top pick, with a target price of 67 RMB and a "Buy" rating [94]