围剿中国工厂

Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the significant pressure faced by Chinese manufacturing due to rising raw material prices, particularly in the context of the booming prices of copper and other industrial metals, which are squeezing profit margins for manufacturers while benefiting upstream resource companies [4][5]. Group 1: Raw Material Price Surge - The price of copper has seen a substantial increase, with a 34.34% rise in 2025, continuing into 2026 [4]. - Other metals such as aluminum, tin, zinc, and lead have also experienced significant price increases, with tin prices rising nearly 40% in 2025 [8]. - Lithium carbonate, essential for electric vehicle batteries, surged from 75,700 yuan per ton in January 2025 to 175,250 yuan per ton by January 2026, marking a 131.4% increase [9]. - Tungsten prices have also skyrocketed, with tungsten concentrate reaching 520,000 yuan per ton and carbide prices increasing from approximately 300,000 yuan per ton to 1,200,000 yuan per ton [9]. Group 2: Impact on Manufacturing Sector - The rising costs of raw materials have led to significant profit pressure on downstream manufacturing sectors, particularly in the home appliance industry, where copper constitutes over 20% of the total cost [12]. - The cost of air conditioning units has increased by 8.45% due to rising copper prices, which reached 105,020 yuan per ton in February 2026, a 42.25% increase from early 2025 [12]. - In the electric vehicle sector, the cost inflation for raw materials alone is estimated at 5,600 yuan per vehicle, primarily driven by lithium price increases [15]. Group 3: Broader Economic Context - Despite being the world's largest manufacturing nation, China's manufacturing sector is facing a dual squeeze from rising upstream costs and competitive pressures from downstream pricing [19][22]. - The profit margin for manufacturing has been declining, with the profit rate dropping to 4.7% in 2025, compared to higher rates in mining and energy sectors [23]. - The article highlights that marketing costs are also rising, with over 63% of surveyed e-commerce businesses spending more than 10% of their sales on paid traffic, further compressing profit margins [20]. Group 4: Strategies for Survival - Chinese manufacturers are exploring three main strategies to cope with these challenges: 1. Expanding business scope by increasing exports of high-value products, with a trade surplus of $1.19 trillion in 2025 [30]. 2. Extending the industrial chain by integrating vertically to reduce dependency on external raw materials [32]. 3. Innovating through technology to replace expensive raw materials, such as the development of sodium-ion batteries as an alternative to lithium-ion [33]. Group 5: Conclusion - The article concludes that the current challenges faced by Chinese manufacturing are indicative of a need for a strategic overhaul, requiring not only corporate efforts but also broader political and economic support to regain control over the industrial chain [28][34].