高盛闭门会-2026全球金属铜锂铝展望，最看好铜看跌铝锂短期紧张

Investment Rating - The report maintains a positive outlook on copper, predicting an average price of $10,650 per ton by 2026, while expressing a bearish view on aluminum, forecasting a decline to $2,350 per ton in the fourth quarter of 2026 [1][2]. Core Insights - The growth in copper demand is significantly driven by artificial intelligence data centers, which are expected to account for 26% of total demand growth by 2025, despite only representing 1% of total demand [1][4]. - China's recent copper demand has shown weakness, with a notable decline in the fourth quarter, which may persist into 2026 due to a shift towards service sector stimulus policies [1][5]. - The high copper prices may lead to a shift towards substitutes like aluminum, but the impact on aluminum is expected to be less significant compared to the negative effects on copper [1][6]. - The lithium market outlook is optimistic, with a price forecast of $11,000 per ton for lithium carbonate in the first half of 2026, driven by increased demand for energy storage systems [2][8]. - The iron ore market is projected to be bearish, with an average price of $93 per ton in 2026, influenced by high port inventories and declining steel demand in China [2][11]. Summary by Sections Copper Market - The average copper price is expected to reach $10,650 per ton by 2026, influenced by slow growth in scrap supply and increasing global demand [1][2]. - If U.S. tariff policies are clarified, it could stabilize prices between $10,500 and $11,000 per ton; otherwise, increasing U.S. inventories could tighten global markets [1][3]. Lithium Market - The lithium carbonate price is forecasted to rise to $11,000 per ton in early 2026 due to increased demand for battery storage systems, but is expected to decline to around $9,500 per ton later in the year as new supplies come online [2][8]. Aluminum Market - The aluminum market outlook is pessimistic, with expectations of a significant supply surplus starting in 2026, leading to a price drop to $2,350 per ton by the fourth quarter [2][7]. Iron Ore Market - The iron ore price is projected to average $93 per ton in 2026, with factors such as high port inventories and reduced steel production in China contributing to this outlook [2][11].