Report Summary 1. Report Industry Investment Rating - Not provided in the content 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - In 2025, the nickel price showed a weak and volatile trend with a continuously downward - shifting center of gravity. The oversupply fundamentals suppressed the price throughout the year, and the year - end price was in the lowest range of the past five years. In 2026, the main contract of Shanghai nickel is expected to fluctuate at the bottom, and policy changes will affect the bottom - probing rhythm [8][44]. - The supply pattern has changed from tight to loose. Indonesia has become the global nickel supply center. In 2025, the approved nickel ore mining quota in Indonesia reached 364 million wet tons, and the actual supply could reach 300 million wet tons, exceeding the domestic demand of 260 million wet tons. The supply of nickel ore and intermediates increased significantly, and the overall supply continued to expand [8]. - The demand in 2025 was characterized by "dominated by existing volume and limited in incremental volume". The demand in the stainless - steel, nickel - alloy, and battery fields had different performance, but overall growth was limited [8]. - In 2025, the LME nickel inventory, SHFE inventory, and refined nickel social inventory were all at historical highs [8]. 3. Summary by Relevant Catalog 3.1 Annual Viewpoint and Strategy - Market Review: In 2025, the nickel price was weak and volatile. It rose in Q1 due to supply disruptions, dropped sharply in April because of tariff shocks, and declined rapidly in the second half of the year as the supply increased. It maintained a low - level shock after a small recovery at the end of the year [8][44]. - Supply: The supply of nickel ore and intermediates increased significantly. The domestic refined nickel production from January to November 2025 was 369,000 tons, a year - on - year increase of 21.8%. The nickel pig iron production in Indonesia increased significantly, and the overall supply continued to expand [8]. - Demand: From January to October 2025, the domestic stainless - steel production was about 32 million tons, corresponding to a nickel consumption of about 1.95 million tons of metal. The nickel demand in the nickel - alloy field increased steadily, and the domestic battery - related nickel demand was about 430,000 tons of metal [8]. - Inventory: The LME nickel inventory, SHFE inventory, and refined nickel social inventory were at historical highs in 2025 [8]. - Outlook: In 2026, the main contract of Shanghai nickel is expected to fluctuate at the bottom, and policy changes will affect the bottom - probing rhythm. - Strategy: Seize the rhythm and conduct sell - hedging when the price is high. Later, pay attention to changes in the mine end, stainless - steel production, and Indonesian nickel exports [8]. 3.2 Macroeconomic Situation - GDP: China's GDP growth target in 2025 was about 5%, and it was expected to be around 4.6% in Q4. The annualized quarterly growth rate of the US GDP in Q3 2025 was 3.9%, and the market expected the full - year growth rate to be between 2.0% and 2.6% [13]. - PMI: In November 2025, China's manufacturing PMI was 49.2%, remaining below the boom - bust line for eight consecutive months with a slight month - on - month increase. The US ISM manufacturing PMI was 48.6, remaining in the contraction range for 14 consecutive months [17]. - Monetary Policy: After the 1 - year and over - 5 - year LPR were cut by 10 basis points on May 20, 2025, they remained unchanged for six consecutive months. The Federal Reserve cut interest rates by 25 basis points on December 10, 2025, lowering the federal funds rate target range to 3.50%–3.75%. China will continue to implement a moderately loose monetary policy [21]. 3.3 Industrial Policy - RKAB Policy: In 2026, the RKAB approval cycle in Indonesia will be adjusted from three years to one year. The new policy aims to deal with the impact of falling mineral and coal prices on national fiscal revenue. It may support the price and even drive it upward [26]. 3.4 Technical Analysis - In 2025, the nickel price maintained a weak and volatile trend [29][34]. 3.5 Industrial Chain and Spot - Futures Market - Industrial Chain Structure: The nickel industry chain includes nickel ore, wet - process intermediates, nickel pig iron, high - grade nickel matte, nickel sulfate, electrolytic nickel, and downstream products such as stainless steel, batteries, electroplating, and alloys [38]. - Spot - Futures Market: In 2025, the nickel price was weak and volatile, and the price spread maintained a low - level shock and was relatively stable overall [44]. 3.6 Supply Side and Intermediates - Nickel Ore: From January to October 2025, China's nickel ore imports reached 4.63839 million tons, a year - on - year increase of 14.53%. The monthly imports fluctuated significantly [52]. - Nickel Pig Iron: In 2025, Indonesia's nickel pig iron production increased significantly, while China's production declined. From January to October 2025, China's nickel pig iron imports were 9.2578 million tons, a year - on - year increase of 30.4% [56][61]. - Refined Nickel: From January to November 2025, the domestic refined nickel production was 369,000 tons, a year - on - year increase of 21.8%. From January to October, the apparent consumption was 323,000 tons, a year - on - year increase of 40% [65]. - Nickel Imports and Exports: From January to October 2025, China's nickel imports were 2.1 million tons, a year - on - year increase of 27%, and exports were 175,600 tons, a year - on - year increase of 52% [70]. - Wet - Process Intermediates: From January to October 2025, Indonesia's MHP production was 390,100 tons of nickel metal, a year - on - year increase of 50.6% [77]. - High - Grade Nickel Matte: From January to October 2025, Indonesia's high - grade nickel matte production was 195,300 tons of nickel metal, a year - on - year decrease of 11.8% due to profit difficulties [82]. - Nickel Sulfate: From January to October 2025, China's nickel sulfate production was about 293,600 tons of metal, a year - on - year decrease of about 3.8%, and imports were 211,700 tons, a year - on - year increase of 16.75% [87]. 3.7 Demand Side - Stainless - Steel Demand: From January to October 2025, the domestic stainless - steel production was 33.2428 million tons, a year - on - year increase of 5.5%. The apparent consumption was 29.3666 million tons, a year - on - year increase of 4.7%. Imports decreased, while exports increased slightly [94][99]. - Cathode Material Demand: From January to November 2025, China's ternary cathode material production was 843,900 tons, a year - on - year increase of about 35.5%. The production of new - energy vehicles in the first 10 months of 2025 was 13.015 million, a year - on - year increase of 33.1% [104]. 3.8 Inventory Side - As of December 2025, the refined nickel social inventory, LME inventory, and SHFE inventory were all at historical highs [115][119].
华联期货镍年报：供应不减，价格重构
Hua Lian Qi Huo·2025-12-15 11:03