阶段性错配支持锂价高位运行

1. Report Industry Investment Rating - Not provided in the given content 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - At the macro - level, geopolitical turmoil keeps the enthusiasm in the non - ferrous sector high, with strong varieties hitting new highs [5]. - At the industrial level, although the subsidy for new energy vehicles is gradually phased out, 62.5 billion in subsidies are advanced, and car companies subsidize 2025 pre - sale orders. Coupled with the reduction in export tax rebates stimulating "rush - to - export", the vehicle sales data from January to February is smoothed. Energy storage orders are scheduled until April - May 2026, but due to battery capacity bottlenecks, they cannot expand rapidly. It is expected that the combined demand for power and energy storage will decline slightly month - on - month. The downstream orders have increased, and institutions have revised up the production plan for January. The domestic demand side in January is not in a typical off - season, with a month - on - month decline of less than 5%. On the supply side, it is reported that a mine in Yichun has stopped production for license renewal, and the market is worried that other mines in Yichun will also be affected. From January to February, smelters conduct maintenance to prepare for peak - season demand. Even if lithium ore imports increase, the production of lithium carbonate may not increase rapidly, and the supply flexibility is limited. The inventory expectation from January to February has changed from inventory accumulation to inventory reduction, which further stimulates downstream purchasing intentions [5]. - At the futures level, the market has raised the target price for lithium prices, and the optimistic sentiment remains high. The new high in prices indicates that the upward trend will continue. However, regulatory risks may still cause significant short - term corrections, and market sentiment changes should be closely monitored [5]. 3. Summary According to Relevant Catalogs 3.1 Demand Analysis 3.1.1 New Energy Vehicles - Off - Season but Better than Expected - The China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM) shows that in 2025, the production and sales of new energy vehicles are 16.626 million and 16.49 million respectively, with year - on - year increases of 29% and 28.2% respectively, and the penetration rate is 47.9%, 7 percentage points higher than the previous year. It is expected that the sales volume of new energy vehicles in 2026 will be 19 million, a year - on - year increase of 15.2%. According to the Passenger Car Association, from January 1 - 18, the retail sales of new energy vehicles in the national passenger car market were 312,000, a year - on - year decrease of 16% and a 52% decrease compared with the same period last month. The cumulative retail sales this year are 312,000, a year - on - year decrease of 16%. The production of power cells follows the sales trend of new energy vehicles. The cumulative production from January to December increased by 41.9% year - on - year to 1245.5 GWh. In January, the "rush - to - export" driven by the reduction in export tax rebates may smooth the decline in power battery production caused by poor vehicle sales [10]. 3.1.2 New Energy Vehicles - Divergent Electrification Progress in Europe and the United States - CleanTechnica statistics show that from January - November 2025, the cumulative global sales of new energy vehicles increased by 20.1% year - on - year to 18.39 million, compared with a 26.4% year - on - year increase in the same period last year. In Europe, from January - November 2025, the cumulative sales of new energy vehicles increased by 29.2% year - on - year to 3.434 million, compared with a 3.7% year - on - year decrease in the same period last year. In the United States, from January - November 2025, the cumulative sales of new energy vehicles increased by 0.7% year - on - year to 1.39 million, compared with an 11% year - on - year increase in the same period last year. The United States cancelled the IRA new energy vehicle subsidy on October 1, resulting in a small sales peak in advance. Most European countries still offer subsidies for new energy vehicles and have carbon emission requirements, which stimulate sales growth this year. However, they also decide to weaken the 2035 ban on fuel - powered vehicles according to their own situations and instead reduce carbon emissions by 90%. The CAAM statistics show that from January - December 2025, the cumulative exports of new energy vehicles from China were 2.583 million, a year - on - year increase of 103%, compared with an 11% year - on - year increase in the same period last year [15]. 3.1.3 Energy Storage Market - Hot Orders but Capacity Bottlenecks Limit Production Growth - In December, the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration issued a notice on power long - term contract signing and performance in 2026, further promoting electricity price marketization. SMM statistics show that in 2025, the cumulative production of energy storage cells in China was 529.4 GWh, a year - on - year increase of 54%, compared with an 88% increase in the same period last year. The inventory of energy storage cells is at a three - year low, the delivery cycle is extended, and the production of energy storage cells in January increased by 1% month - on - month [16][19]. 3.1.4 "Rush - to - export" Boosts Market Sentiment but with Limited Room - SMM data shows that in December, battery production increased by 3.5% month - on - month, with ternary battery production decreasing by 2.9% and lithium iron phosphate battery production decreasing by 5.6%. Cell production: power cells decreased by 2.8% and energy storage cells increased by 8.6%. Cathode material production: ternary cathode materials decreased by 2.5% and lithium iron phosphate decreased by 2.2%. Electrolyte production increased by 4.0%. In January, battery production is expected to decrease by 5.9% month - on - month, with ternary batteries decreasing by 6.4% and lithium iron phosphate batteries decreasing by 5.6%. Cell production: power cells are expected to decrease by 6.1% and energy storage cells to remain flat. Cathode material production: ternary cathode materials are expected to decrease by 4.4% and lithium iron phosphate by 10%. Electrolyte production is expected to decrease by 6.1%. Affected by the weakening power demand, the off - season continues in January but may be revised up due to the "rush - to - export". It is expected that the month - on - month decline will continue in February [28]. 3.2 Supply Analysis 3.2.1 Stable but Slightly Declining Lithium Carbonate Production - In January, due to maintenance of some smelters, production decreased by 1.2% month - on - month, and more maintenance is expected in February. SMM statistics show that from January - December, the domestic production of lithium carbonate was 970,000 tons, a cumulative year - on - year increase of 44%, compared with a 47% increase in the same period last year. The production plan for January is 98,000 tons. Leading lithium mines are holding firm on prices, and lithium ore prices follow lithium salt prices, exceeding production costs. This week, the production of all raw materials has declined, indicating the start of smelter maintenance [33]. 3.2.2 Monthly Lithium Carbonate Production by Raw Material in China - The report presents the production trends of lithium carbonate from different raw materials such as salt lakes, lithium spodumene, lithium mica, and recycling, with specific data and trends in different months from 2022 - 2025 [35]. 3.2.3 Marginal Decline in Lithium Carbonate Supply in January - In 2025, from January - December, China's lithium carbonate imports were 243,000 tons, a year - on - year increase of 3%. In December, Chile's total lithium carbonate exports were 14,000 tons, and 8071 tons were exported to China, a month - on - month decline. Due to reduced shipments from Australia and Chile in December, it is expected that the imports of lithium concentrate and lithium carbonate in China in January will decline month - on - month [41]. 3.3 Supply - Demand Balance and Inventory 3.3.1 Lithium Carbonate Supply - Demand Balance Forecast (in 10,000 tons of LCE) - The report shows the historical supply - demand balance of lithium carbonate and its relationship with average prices [43]. 3.3.2 Continuous Inventory Reduction in the Lithium Carbonate Off - Season - SMM statistics show that the social inventory decreased by 783 tons this week, and inventory has been continuously reduced for two weeks in January. Among them, smelters and downstream enterprises increased their inventory, while traders reduced their inventory [44]. 3.4 Market Outlook and Strategy Recommendations - Unilateral trading: Adopt a low - buying strategy [5]. - Arbitrage: Temporarily wait and see [5]. - Options: Sell out - of - the - money put options [5].