Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is upgraded to "Overweight" [1] Core Views - The report expresses a long-term positive outlook on the electrolytic aluminum sector, driven by significant price increases and structural supply constraints [3][4] - The demand for electrolytic aluminum is expected to grow due to both traditional and emerging applications, with a notable increase in demand from sectors like new energy vehicles and data centers [5][6] Summary by Sections Industry Performance - Over the past 12 months, the industry has shown strong performance with relative returns of 83.5% and absolute returns of 107.28% [2] Supply Side Analysis - Global electrolytic aluminum production capacity is constrained, with China's capacity at 45 million tons per year, accounting for 55% of global capacity. The overall operating rate remains above 98%, with minimal growth expected [4] - The global supply growth rate is projected at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of only 1.4% from 2025 to 2030, significantly lower than the expected demand growth rate of 2.3% [4] Demand Side Analysis - Traditional applications are stabilizing, while new applications are experiencing rapid growth. For instance, the demand from new energy vehicles is expected to add 330,000 tons of electrolytic aluminum in 2026 [6] - The shift towards aluminum replacing copper in various applications is accelerating, with a projected replacement scale exceeding 700,000 tons by 2025 [6] Cost Analysis - The use of green electricity is improving production economics, with the cost of producing aluminum decreasing by approximately 15% compared to traditional coal power methods [7][8] - The current production cost of electrolytic aluminum in China is about 2,000 yuan lower than the global average, enhancing competitive advantages [7][8] Investment Recommendations - The report recommends focusing on investment opportunities within the aluminum sector, highlighting companies such as Nanshan Aluminum, China Aluminum, Yun Aluminum, and Zhongfu Industrial as key players to watch [8]