GANFENG LITHIUM(SZ:002460) Hua Jin Qi Huo·2025-12-31 09:42Report Industry Investment Rating The report does not provide an industry investment rating. Core Viewpoints of the Report - In 2026, supply and demand of lithium carbonate will both grow at a high - speed. The growth in energy storage will support the price of lithium carbonate to fluctuate in a relatively strong range. The demand growth rate will exceed the supply growth rate, and the oversupply volume will slightly decrease compared to 2025. It is expected that the price of lithium carbonate will remain volatile between 100,000 - 150,000 yuan [2][3]. - The risk points are the accelerated production of upstream mines and the demand growth rate falling short of expectations [4]. Summary According to the Table of Contents 1. 2025 Market Review (1) Lithium Carbonate Futures Market Trend - In 2025, the lithium carbonate market showed a trend of first declining and then rising. From January to May, due to the panic of the tariff war and the oversupply, the price dropped below 60,000 yuan. From June to July, influenced by the "anti - involution" policy and the price approaching the cost line, the price rose to 70,000 - 80,000 yuan. On August 8, concerns about supply contraction caused the price to hit the daily limit, and then it gradually fell back. From October to November, due to increased energy storage demand and decreased mica ore supply, the price returned to 100,000 yuan. In December, the price continued to rise and finally closed at around 120,000 yuan. The annual increase of the main lithium carbonate futures contract was 55%, and the price fluctuation range was 99%. The trading volume and open interest reached record highs [7][8][9]. (2) Lithium Carbonate Spot and Basis - Spot prices: The price of battery - grade lithium carbonate rose from 75,000 yuan at the beginning of 2025 to 112,000 yuan at the end, with a 49% increase. The price of lithium hydroxide rose from 70,000 yuan/ton to 102,000 yuan, with a 46% increase. The price difference between lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide widened from about 5,000 yuan at the beginning to 11,000 yuan at the end, indicating stronger downstream demand for lithium carbonate. - Basis: The main basis once expanded to - 10,000 yuan/ton or lower, setting a record since listing. The correlation between futures and spot prices was strong, but when futures prices rose rapidly, the increase in the SMM spot average price was relatively small [14][19]. (3) Price Trends in the Upstream and Downstream of the Lithium Carbonate Industry Chain - In 2025, prices in the upstream and downstream of the lithium carbonate industry chain generally increased. Cobalt - lithium oxide had a growth rate of over 170% due to the sharp rise in cobalt prices. Lithium hexafluorophosphate had a growth rate of over 160% due to limited supply in the phosphochemical industry and unexpected demand. The price of upstream lithium ore increased by 82%. The growth rates of intermediate raw materials such as lithium carbonate and lithium hydroxide were over 55%. The growth rates of downstream battery cathode materials such as lithium iron phosphate and ternary materials were about 35% [20]. 2. Lithium Carbonate Supply Analysis (1) Domestic Lithium Carbonate Supply Analysis - Salt lake lithium extraction: It is expected that the output in 2026 will reach 276,000 tons, an increase of 98,000 tons compared to 2025, with a nearly 55% increase. The largest output increments come from the Chaerhan Salt Lake of Salt Lake Co., Ltd., the Laguo Co Salt Lake of Zijin Mining, and the Mami Cuo Salt Lake of Zangge Mining. In the future, the output growth will mainly come from Tibetan salt lakes, with an increment of 41,000 tons in 2026, accounting for over 40% of the total increment [23]. - Mica ore lithium extraction: The output in 2026 is expected to be 232,000 tons, an increase of 90,000 tons compared to 2025, a 63% year - on - year increase. The increments mainly come from the resumption of production at the Jiangxi Jianxiawo Mine, the increased production at the Qiankeng Lithium Mine, and the commissioning of mica mines in Inner Mongolia and Hunan [27]. - Spodumene lithium extraction: The output in 2026 is expected to be 86,000 tons, an increase of 33,000 tons, a 62% year - on - year increase. The main increments come from the Dahongliutan Lithium Mine of Xinjiang Nonferrous Metals, the Jiada Lithium Mine of Dazhong Mining, and the Lijiagou Spodumene Mine [34]. - Overall, in 2025, although the output of mica - produced lithium carbonate decreased, the increase in salt lake and spodumene output led to a 20% increase in domestic lithium carbonate output. In 2026, due to the significant increase in capacity at the salt lake and mica ends, the domestic lithium carbonate output is expected to reach 594,000 tons, a 59% increase [37]. (2) Overseas Lithium Carbonate Supply Analysis - South American salt lakes: The lithium carbonate output in 2026 is expected to be 517,000 tons, an increase of 64,000 tons, a 14% year - on - year increase. The increments mainly come from the Atacama Salt Lake of SQM, the Centenario - Ratones Salt Lake of Eramet, and the 3Q Salt Lake of Zijin Mining [39]. - Australian spodumene mines: The output of Australian mines is expected to increase slightly by 17,000 tons in 2026, reaching 492,000 tons. The increase mainly comes from the Greenbushes, Pilgangoora, and Holland mines, while the Wodgina and Marion mines will reduce production [45]. - African spodumene mines: The output in 2025 was estimated to be 211,000 tons, an 82% year - on - year increase compared to 2024. It is expected to reach 349,000 tons in 2026, an increase of 138,000 tons, a nearly 40% year - on - year increase. The main increments in 2026 come from the Goulamina Mine of Ganfeng Lithium, the Bikita Mine of Zhongke Resources, the Arcadia Mine of Huayou Cobalt, and the Manono Mine of Zijin Mining [49]. - American spodumene mines: The output in 2026 is expected to be 75,000 tons, an increase of 2,000 tons. The Grota do Cirilo Mine in Brazil is expected to fully increase its capacity in Q1 2026, and the NAL Mine of North American Lithium is expected to maintain its output [56]. - Overall overseas supply: From 2025 to 2026, the overseas supply growth rates were 25% and 18% respectively. In 2026, the overseas new lithium carbonate output was 222,000 tons, with a total output of 1.434 million tons [61]. (3) Global Lithium Carbonate Supply and Cost Analysis - Global supply: In 2025, the global lithium carbonate output was estimated to be 1.67 million tons, a 24% year - on - year increase. In 2026, it will reach 2.13 million tons, a 28% year - on - year increase. The domestic supply will increase by 220,000 tons, and the overseas supply will increase by 220,000 tons [62]. - Global cost: The global lithium carbonate cash cost is estimated to be 55,000 yuan/ton at the 80% cash cost line. Considering a depreciation cost of 5,000 yuan/ton, the production cost is expected to be 60,000 yuan/ton [67][68]. 3. Lithium Carbonate Demand Analysis (1) Power Battery Demand Analysis - In 2025, from January to November, China's new - energy vehicle production and sales increased by 31.4% and 31.2% respectively. It is expected that the sales volume in 2025 will be 16.6 million, a 29% year - on - year increase. In 2026, due to the reduction of new - energy vehicle purchase tax incentives in China and the expiration of tax credits in the US, the sales growth rates in these two countries will decline. However, Europe and other regions are expected to maintain high demand. It is estimated that the global new - energy vehicle sales growth rate in 2026 will be 22%, and the global power battery installation growth rate may reach 28% [71][73]. (2) Energy Storage Battery Demand Analysis - In 2025, the new - energy power generation installed capacity in China increased significantly. After the end of the mandatory energy storage allocation policy, the domestic new - energy storage market first declined and then rose. In the first half of 2025, the cumulative installed capacity of new - energy storage in China reached 101.3 GW, a 110% year - on - year increase. Overseas energy storage demand also increased significantly. It is estimated that the global energy storage battery shipment in 2026 will maintain a high growth rate of about 60%, reaching 1040 GWh [81][84][87]. (3) Global Lithium Carbonate Demand Analysis - In 2025, the power battery demand drove the lithium carbonate demand to increase by 210,000 tons, a 31% year - on - year increase. In 2026, it will reach 1.08 million tons, an increase of 220,000 tons, a 25% year - on - year increase. The energy storage demand drove the lithium carbonate demand to increase by 190,000 tons in 2025, an 83% year - on - year increase. In 2026, it will reach 680,000 tons, an increase of 250,000 tons, a 60% year - on - year increase. In 2025, the total global lithium carbonate demand was estimated to be 1.55 million tons, a 36% year - on - year increase. In 2026, it is expected to reach 2.02 million tons, a 32% year - on - year increase [92]. 4. Lithium Carbonate Supply - Demand Analysis - In 2025, due to multiple factors such as the "anti - involution" policy, domestic mica ore production reduction, and the explosion of global energy storage demand, the oversupply contradiction of lithium carbonate was gradually alleviated, and the market was in a state of tight supply - demand balance. - In 2026, on the supply side, domestic supply will increase by nearly 59% year - on - year, and overseas supply will increase by 18%. The global lithium carbonate output will reach 2.13 million tons, a 28% year - on - year increase. On the demand side, the energy storage battery demand will maintain a high growth rate, and the power battery demand growth rate will slightly decline. The global lithium carbonate demand will reach 2.02 million tons, a 32% year - on - year increase. Overall, the demand growth rate will exceed the supply growth rate, and the price is expected to remain volatile between 100,000 - 150,000 yuan [2][3][94].