高盛：潮水退去谁在裸泳？警告！供应严重过剩，2026年铝、锂、铁矿石价格将重挫，唯有铜价“一枝独秀”

Core Viewpoint - Goldman Sachs warns that the current surge in industrial metal prices driven by macro sentiment is about to retreat, leading to significant market differentiation, with aluminum, lithium, and iron ore expected to see price declines by 18%, 23%, and 17% respectively by the end of 2026, while copper remains strong due to supply constraints and robust structural demand from sectors like power grids and AI [1][3]. Copper - Copper is viewed as the only metal with a positive outlook, with a price floor around $10,000 per ton due to structural demand from power grid upgrades and AI infrastructure [3][5]. - Supply constraints are highlighted, with accidents at major copper mines revealing challenges in old mines and complex geology, limiting supply growth and supporting copper prices [6]. - Strong demand is driven by strategic investments in power infrastructure, with expectations that over 60% of copper demand growth will come from this sector by 2030 [7]. - A short-term catalyst includes potential U.S. tariffs on refined copper, leading to preemptive stockpiling by traders, tightening supply outside the U.S. [7]. - Despite recent price spikes, the increase is based on future expectations rather than current fundamentals, with predictions of a 500,000-ton surplus in 2025, narrowing to 160,000 tons in 2026 [7]. Aluminum - The aluminum market faces a dual challenge of oversupply and demand risks, with Goldman Sachs recommending a short position [8]. - A supply surge is anticipated due to high prices stimulating new capacity, particularly from Indonesia and India, leading to a projected 1.1 million ton surplus by 2026 [8]. - Demand is threatened by substitution risks, as manufacturers shift from aluminum to cheaper steel in automotive production due to rising aluminum prices [8]. - Price forecasts suggest LME aluminum prices could drop to $2,350 per ton by Q4 2026 [9]. Lithium - Recent rebounds in lithium prices are viewed as temporary, with Goldman Sachs predicting a return to a surplus by the second half of 2026 [10]. - Short-term tightness is attributed to strong demand for energy storage systems and supply disruptions in China [10]. - By the end of 2026, lithium prices are expected to decline by 23% to around $9,500 per ton [10]. Iron Ore - The iron ore market's fundamentals have deteriorated significantly, with a bleak outlook for 2026 [11]. - A projected increase of 51 million tons in Chinese port inventories is expected by 2026, alongside supply increases from Australia, Brazil, and Guinea [12][13]. - Global seaborne iron ore demand is anticipated to decline by 1%, with Chinese steel production expected to drop by 2% [12]. - Price predictions indicate that iron ore prices could fall to $88 per ton by the end of 2026 [14]. Investment Strategy - The report emphasizes a strategy of "distilling the truth" for investors in 2026, advocating for long positions in copper due to its structural shortage while avoiding or shorting aluminum, lithium, and iron ore, which face significant supply pressures [14].