高工锂电·2026-01-09 10:46Core Viewpoint - The lithium battery industry chain is showing signs of recovery, with financial performance improving significantly in the resource and material sectors, indicating a potential investment opportunity [3]. Resource Sector - Salt Lake Co. expects a net profit of 8.29 to 8.89 billion yuan for 2025, with a year-on-year increase of nearly 91%, attributed to rising potassium fertilizer prices and a rebound in lithium carbonate prices [5]. - Zijin Mining anticipates a net profit of 51 to 52 billion yuan for 2025, reflecting a year-on-year growth of approximately 59% to 62%, driven by increased mineral product prices and operational efficiency [6]. - Zijin Mining has included lithium in its growth strategy, projecting a lithium carbonate equivalent production of about 25,000 tons for 2025 and a target of 120,000 tons for 2026, indicating a shift towards large-scale supply [7]. - Zijin Mining is expanding its lithium business beyond mining, with the establishment of Fujian Zixin Lithium Battery Materials Co., focusing on manufacturing and R&D of electronic materials [8]. - The recovery of profits in the resource sector is often the first sign of an early-stage recovery in the cycle [10]. Integrated Companies - Huayou Cobalt expects a net profit of 5.85 to 6.45 billion yuan for 2025, with a maximum year-on-year increase of about 55%, attributed to the advantages of industrial integration and the recovery of cobalt and lithium prices [11][12]. - The profit growth of integrated companies is linked to the ability to combine resource elasticity and manufacturing efficiency, leading to accelerated profit growth [13]. Material Sector - Tianqi Lithium expects a net profit of 1.1 to 1.6 billion yuan for 2025, with a potential year-on-year growth of over 230%, driven by demand from new energy vehicles and energy storage [14]. - Lichun Group reported that its lithium hexafluorophosphate business has turned profitable since November 2025, benefiting from price recovery [15]. - The profit recovery in the midstream material sector is transitioning from expectation to realization [16]. Market Dynamics - The rapid recovery of profits raises questions about future valuation methods, with a shift from growth narratives to cyclical profit pricing as a potential outcome [17]. - The focus is on the sustainability of excess profits rather than immediate profitability [18]. - Concerns exist regarding potential supply expansion and competition due to short payback periods in the industry [19][20]. Overall Outlook - The current scenario resembles a typical early-stage recovery, with leading companies showing profit improvements as the first signal [21].