Investment Rating - The report maintains a "Positive" investment rating for the industry [10] Core Insights - The non-ferrous metal sector continues to show strong performance, with basic metals experiencing a net profit growth of 27% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, driven by a rebound in manufacturing and expectations of interest rate cuts [4][19] - Gold maintains a bullish market trend, with significant profit elasticity due to rising production capacity and price increases [5][19] - Energy metals show mixed performance, with lithium prices under pressure while cobalt prices improve, leading to better profitability for cobalt-related companies [6][19] - Rare earth materials are recovering as export controls enhance their strategic value, with prices stabilizing after previous declines [7][19] - Titanium materials are gradually improving in profitability, awaiting a recovery in high-end demand [8][19] Summary by Sections Basic Metals - In the first half of 2025, the basic metals sector achieved a net profit of 703.79 billion yuan, a 26.67% increase year-on-year, with a revenue growth of 4.24% [21][30] - The second quarter of 2025 saw a net profit of 376.44 billion yuan, up 14% year-on-year and 15% quarter-on-quarter, attributed to easing tariff pressures and strong industrial performance [4][37] Gold - The gold sector experienced a revenue increase of 25.94% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, with net profit soaring by 58.95% [14][19] - In Q2 2025, gold prices reached new highs, driven by trade conflicts and recession expectations, leading to significant profit elasticity for gold mining companies [5][19] Energy Metals - The energy metals sector faced a decline in lithium prices, with a year-on-year revenue decrease of 4.76% in the first half of 2025, while cobalt prices improved significantly [6][19] - Cobalt prices are recovering due to supply constraints from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which has implemented export bans [6][19] Rare Earth Materials - The rare earth sector saw a revenue increase of 12.74% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, with net profit growth of 260.72% [19][21] - Export controls and new regulations are expected to enhance the strategic value of rare earth materials, supporting price recovery [7][19] Titanium Materials - The titanium sector reported a slight revenue decrease of 0.90% year-on-year in the first half of 2025, with net profit down by 4.04% [19][21] - There is an expectation of improved profitability as high-end demand begins to recover [8][19]