Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Recommended" rating for the chromium salt industry, indicating a positive outlook based on the industry's fundamentals and performance relative to the market index [1][13]. Core Insights - Continuous growth in national defense spending is expected to drive high demand for chromium salts. The 2025 national defense budget is projected at 1,784.665 billion yuan, reflecting a 7.2% increase, marking three consecutive years of growth at this rate [4][5]. - The report highlights that the defense and aerospace sectors are likely to significantly boost the demand for chromium salt products, particularly in high-temperature alloys and military applications [5][9]. Summary by Sections Recent Trends - The basic chemical industry has shown a performance increase of 2.9% over the last month, while the Shanghai and Shenzhen 300 index has only increased by 0.2% [3]. Industry Demand Drivers - The report emphasizes that the growth in defense spending will enhance the demand for chromium salts, particularly in the context of military and aerospace applications [4][5]. - The commercial aerospace sector is also contributing to the rising demand for high-temperature alloys, with a growing number of market participants [6][9]. Key Companies and Forecasts - The report identifies Zhihua Co. as a key player in the chromium salt industry, with a projected earnings per share (EPS) of 1.07 for 2025 and a "Buy" rating based on its integrated advantages in the chromium salt supply chain [13].