天塌了！锰基正极材料小霸主，遭遇比亚迪搅局两轮车电池，湘潭电化：扩产锰酸锂前途未卜

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly state an investment rating for the company Core Viewpoints - The company, Xiangtan Electric Chemical, is facing challenges due to competition from BYD in the lithium battery market for two-wheeled vehicles, which may impact its future growth prospects in manganese-based lithium materials [1][5][9] - The manganese-based cathode material market is characterized by a small scale and slow development, with the company potentially achieving a market share of 43.48% if it fully utilizes its production capacity by 2026 [7][8] - The company is heavily reliant on the electric manganese dioxide (EMD) segment, which contributes significantly to its revenue and has a higher profit margin compared to manganese lithium [9][10][12] Summary by Sections Industry Overview - Manganese has traditionally been used in the steel industry, but its application in lithium batteries is gaining attention due to the rapid growth of the power battery sector [3][4] - Manganese lithium batteries are expected to see increased demand in electric two-wheelers and low-speed electric vehicles, with a clear application scenario [4][5] Company Financials - The company plans to raise 487 million yuan through convertible bonds to fund a project for producing 30,000 tons of spinel manganese lithium battery materials [6][7] - The company's revenue for 2024 is projected to be 1.9 billion yuan, with EMD accounting for 67% and manganese lithium for 25% of the total revenue [9][12] - The gross margin for EMD is significantly higher at 37%, while manganese lithium has struggled with margins below 1% in recent years [9][10][19] Competitive Landscape - The manganese-based cathode material market is small, with few competitors, and the company is positioned as a potential leader despite the overall weak competitive environment [8][9][13] - The company faces challenges from the rising popularity of lithium iron phosphate (LFP) batteries, which may diminish the advantages of manganese lithium [25][26][30] Market Dynamics - The domestic market for electric two-wheelers is experiencing a decline, with sales expected to drop by 11.6% in 2024 compared to 2023 [33] - Despite the challenges, the demand for manganese lithium is projected to grow, with expected shipments of 115,000 tons in 2024, reflecting a 27.92% increase year-on-year [22][34] Investment and Returns - The company has a history of raising funds through multiple rounds of financing, totaling 1.72 billion yuan, but has provided only 354 million yuan in dividends to shareholders since its IPO [48][50]