Changjiang Securities·2025-12-08 09:53Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the industry [3]. Core Insights - The report highlights the cyclical nature of the lithium battery industry, emphasizing the price and stock performance trends during the last lithium cycle [8]. - It notes that the price of lithium carbonate and other materials has shown significant fluctuations, impacting the profitability of companies within the supply chain [12][19][23]. - The report indicates that the stock prices of major lithium battery companies peaked in late 2021, with a notable lag behind the price peaks of raw materials [39]. Summary by Sections Section 1: Market Review - The previous lithium cycle saw a dramatic increase in prices, with 6F prices rising from 70,000 CNY/ton in mid-2020 to 425,000 CNY/ton by August 2021, while lithium carbonate prices surged to 500,000 CNY/ton by early 2022 [12]. - The report discusses the impact of long-term contracts on pricing stability, noting that leading companies maintained higher prices even as market prices began to decline [12]. Section 2: Price Trends of Key Materials - Iron lithium processing fees increased significantly from Q1 2021 to Q1 2022, with a total rise of approximately 20,000 CNY/ton, before stabilizing and then declining in 2023 [19]. - The report details the price trends of negative electrode materials, indicating a price increase of 10,000 CNY/ton from H2 2021 to Q1 2022 due to supply constraints [23]. - Wet-process separator prices saw a modest increase of 0.2-0.3 CNY/sq.m from H2 2021 to H1 2022, with a subsequent decline starting in Q1 2023 [26]. Section 3: Battery Cost and Profitability - The report estimates that the costs for iron lithium and ternary batteries were 0.77 and 0.91 CNY/Wh respectively in Q2 2022, reflecting an increase from Q1 2021 [31]. - It notes that battery companies were able to pass on cost increases to automakers starting in Q2 2022, leading to stable unit profitability despite earlier cost pressures [31]. Section 4: Stock Performance Review - The report provides a detailed review of stock performance across key companies in the lithium battery sector from 2019 to 2022, highlighting significant gains during the electric vehicle boom [37]. - It notes that the stock prices of most companies peaked in November 2021, with a subsequent decline observed in the following year [39]. - The report emphasizes that the price peaks of raw materials often lagged behind stock price peaks, indicating a complex relationship between market dynamics and stock performance [39].