Shanxi Securities·2025-11-19 07:20Investment Rating - The report maintains a "B" rating for the new materials sector, indicating a positive outlook for the industry [2]. Core Insights - The demand for energy storage is surging, leading to a continuous increase in lithium battery material prices. Lithium hexafluorophosphate, a key raw material for electrolytes, has seen its price rise to 160,000 CNY/ton, a threefold increase from the low of 50,000 CNY/ton in July 2025. This price surge is expected to persist due to tight supply conditions, which may last until 2026 [4][5]. - The report highlights the significant growth in procurement volumes for lithium hexafluorophosphate by electrolyte manufacturers, driven by the booming demand from the electric vehicle and energy storage sectors [4]. - The report suggests focusing on the lithium hexafluorophosphate supply chain, recommending companies such as Tianji Co., Tianqi Materials, Xinzhou Bang, Shenzhen New Star, and Duofluo [4]. Summary by Sections 1. Market Performance - The new materials index increased by 0.32%, outperforming the ChiNext index by 3.33%. Over the past five trading days, the battery chemicals sector rose by 13.83%, while semiconductor materials and electronic chemicals declined by 1.82% and 2.23%, respectively [2][17]. 2. Price Tracking - As of November 14, 2025, the price of valine remained stable at 12,550 CNY/ton, while arginine decreased by 0.47% to 21,400 CNY/ton. The price of vitamin D3 was 212,500 CNY/ton, unchanged from the previous week [3][28]. - The price of biodegradable plastics, such as PLA, remained stable at 17,800 CNY/ton for injection molding grade and 17,000 CNY/ton for film blowing grade [32]. 3. Investment Recommendations - The report emphasizes the high entry barriers in the industry and the cautious expansion of companies due to years of losses. It predicts that the average price of VC (vinylene carbonate), an important additive in electrolytes, could reach 100,000 CNY/ton by 2026 [5]. - Companies to watch include Huasheng Lithium Battery, Haike New Source, Lianhong Technology, and Taihe Technology [5].