CATL(SZ:300750) Haitong Securities International·2025-08-12 14:44Investment Rating - The report suggests a focus on "price up + valuation repair" as the dual investment theme, indicating a positive outlook for companies with resource advantages and low compliance risks [5][12]. Core Insights - The suspension of CATL's lithium mine highlights the importance of resource security and technological innovation in the industry, creating potential investment opportunities [1][5]. - The short-term impact of the mine suspension is expected to increase lithium prices, which will sequentially pressure costs and margins across the supply chain, affecting cathode manufacturers, battery producers, and automakers [2][9]. - Despite the short-term disruptions, the overall supply-demand balance remains favorable, with a projected surplus in lithium carbonate supply through 2025 [3][10]. - Technological advancements in lithium extraction and battery recycling are seen as key strategies to mitigate cost pressures and enhance recovery rates [4][11]. Summary by Sections Mine Suspension Impact - CATL's Jianxiawo lithium-mica mine in Jiangxi ceased operations due to the expiration of its mining license, which is the largest single lithium-mica operation globally, holding approximately 6.57 million tons of lithium carbonate equivalent (LCE) [1][8]. - The suspension is expected to reduce monthly lithium supply by about 8%, leading to increased prices and potential profit compression for downstream manufacturers [2][9]. Supply-Demand Dynamics - As of mid-2025, the lithium carbonate market is projected to have a supply of 553,000 tons, with demand at approximately 522,000 tons, indicating a surplus of around 30,000 tons [3][10]. - Social inventory levels remain above 140,000 tons, sufficient to cover short-term supply gaps [3][10]. Technological Innovations - The industry is focusing on process upgrades and recycling to reduce costs and improve recovery rates, with new methods achieving significant reductions in cash costs for lithium extraction [4][11]. - The anticipated growth of the battery recycling market is projected to exceed 100 billion yuan by 2030, driven by increasing volumes of retired batteries [4][11]. Investment Recommendations - The report recommends focusing on industry leaders like CATL, which possess both resource advantages and pricing power, as they are expected to outperform amid rising lithium prices [5][12].