Report Industry Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly mention an overall industry investment rating. However, for individual varieties, the mid - term outlooks for industrial silicon, polycrystalline silicon, and lithium carbonate are all "oscillating" [5]. Core Viewpoints - The overall view of new energy metals is that supply and demand are weak, and prices will maintain a weak trend. In the short - to - medium term, prices are weak, and cautious participation is advisable. For long - term, low prices may accelerate the capacity clearance of domestically self - priced varieties [1]. - Industrial silicon: During the wet season, supply increases while demand is weak, and silicon prices are under downward pressure [2][5]. - Polycrystalline silicon: The game between bulls and bears intensifies, and polycrystalline silicon prices fluctuate widely [2][5]. - Lithium carbonate: The support of ore prices continues to decline, and lithium prices are under pressure [2][7]. Summary by Related Catalogs 1. Market Views Industrial Silicon - **Current prices**: As of June 3, according to SMM data, the price of oxygen - passing 553 in East China is 8,200 yuan/ton, and 421 in East China is 8,850 yuan/ton [5]. - **Inventory situation**: According to Baichuan data, the domestic inventory is 420,900 tons, a month - on - month increase of 0.4%; market inventory is 169,000 tons, a month - on - month increase of 0.9%; factory inventory is 251,900 tons, a month - on - month increase of 0.1% [5]. - **Production and export**: In May 2025, the domestic monthly production of industrial silicon was 308,000 tons, a month - on - month increase of 2.3% and a year - on - year decrease of 24.6%; from January to May, the cumulative production was 1.544 million tons, a year - on - year decrease of 15.3%. In April, the export volume of industrial silicon was 60,509 tons, a month - on - month increase of 1.6% and a year - on - year decrease of 9.2%. From January to April 2025, the cumulative export volume was 216,730 tons, a year - on - year decrease of 6.5% [5]. - **Photovoltaic installation**: In April, the newly - added photovoltaic installed capacity was 45.2GW, a month - on - month increase of 123.4% and a year - on - year increase of 214.7%; from January to April, the cumulative newly - added photovoltaic installed capacity was 104.9GW, a year - on - year increase of 74.6% [5]. - **Main logic**: On the supply side, large northern factories are gradually resuming production, and supply in the northwest is rising. In June, the southwest enters the wet season, and the operating rate in Sichuan has risen first, followed by Yunnan. On the demand side, downstream demand remains weak. Polysilicon factories continue to cut production, and demand for industrial silicon is still weak. The organic silicon industry has a slight recovery, and subsequent demand is expected to remain stable. The demand for industrial silicon from the aluminum alloy industry has limited impact. Inventory continues to accumulate, but futures prices have fallen rapidly, and warehouse receipt inventory has decreased [5]. - **Outlook**: The resumption of production in northwest silicon factories has slowed down, but there is still a possibility of further resumption. In June, production in Sichuan and Yunnan will increase. Under high supply pressure, inventory will continue to accumulate. Silicon prices are expected to oscillate [5]. Polycrystalline Silicon - **Price and trade data**: According to the Silicon Industry Association, the transaction price range of N - type re - feedstock is 36,000 - 38,000 yuan/ton, with an average transaction price of 37,500 yuan/ton, a month - on - month decrease of 2.85%. In April, China's polycrystalline silicon export volume was about 1,262.3 tons, a month - on - month decrease of 37% and a year - on - year decrease of 36.2%. The import volume was about 954.3 tons, a month - on - month decrease of 1,951.7 tons (a decrease of 67.2%) and a year - on - year decrease of 2,713.9 tons (a decrease of 73.98%) [5]. - **Photovoltaic installation**: From January to April 2025, the newly - added domestic photovoltaic installed capacity was 104.93GW, a year - on - year increase of 74.56%. In 2024, the cumulative newly - added photovoltaic installed capacity from January to December was 278GW, a year - on - year increase of 28% [5]. - **Industry news**: The photovoltaic silicon material sector holds a "meeting" monthly to discuss production cuts. Leading silicon material enterprises intend to jointly promote capacity integration but still need to discuss implementation [5]. - **Warehouse receipt situation**: The latest number of polycrystalline silicon warehouse receipts on the Guangzhou Futures Exchange is 1,570 lots, an increase of 1,100 lots compared to the previous value [5]. - **Main logic**: The registration speed of polycrystalline silicon warehouse receipts has accelerated recently, and there is great uncertainty about the resumption of production during the wet season. It is expected that large - scale production capacity will be replaced, and supply pressure will be greatly alleviated. Under the influence of both positive and negative news, price fluctuations have increased. On the supply side, most silicon material factories are still in a loss state, and production is currently at a low level. In April, production was below 100,000 tons, a significant decline compared to the beginning of 2024. It is expected that low production will continue in May 2025. On the demand side, after the end of the photovoltaic rush - to - install period, the prices of downstream photovoltaic products such as components have begun to decline, and there is a risk of weakening demand for polycrystalline silicon in the second half of the year [5][6]. - **Outlook**: The short - term low production of polycrystalline silicon has improved supply and demand, but there is a risk of weakening demand in the second half of the year. Prices are expected to oscillate widely [5][7]. Lithium Carbonate - **Price and trading data**: On June 3, the closing price of the lithium carbonate main contract increased by 0.23% to 59,940 yuan; the total open interest of lithium carbonate contracts increased by 12,174 lots to 585,875 lots. The spot price of SMM battery - grade lithium carbonate decreased by 400 yuan to 60,300 yuan/ton; the price of industrial - grade lithium carbonate decreased by 400 yuan to 58,700 yuan/ton. The average price of lithium spodumene concentrate (6% CIF China) on Flush decreased by 12 US dollars to 608 US dollars/ton, equivalent to 58,500 yuan/ton of lithium carbonate. On that day, the warehouse receipts decreased by 60 tons to 33,397 tons [7]. - **Industry news**: Bolivia's lithium mining development plan for the Uyuni Salt Flats has suffered a major setback. The local court has suspended two large - scale lithium mining agreements with China and Russia, with a total value of over 2 billion US dollars and a planned annual production capacity of 35,000 tons of lithium carbonate [7]. - **Main logic**: The fundamentals are still relatively loose, but inventory has marginally improved, and the price difference structure has strengthened. On the supply side, weekly production increased by 487 tons to 16,600 tons. On the demand side, domestic cathode materials maintained growth from January to May but at a slower pace. June is a demand off - season, and demand is expected to be flat compared to the previous month, better than the same period last year. Social inventory decreased slightly by 208 tons in a single week, and warehouse receipt inventory has also decreased recently. Ore prices are still falling, but they have not reached the marginal cost of Australian mines, and no mine production cuts have been seen. In the future, cost support will continue to be tested, and lithium carbonate prices will be further pushed down. With the expectation of weakening demand and increasing supply, social inventory is expected to continue to accumulate, and prices will be under pressure. In the short term, the monthly spread has strengthened, and warehouse receipts have continuously decreased. Attention should be paid to mine production cut news, and opportunities for short - selling on rebounds or reverse spreads should be monitored [7]. - **Outlook**: Demand is weak, and supply is at a high level. Prices are expected to oscillate in the short term [7].

Investment Rating - The report maintains an "Outperform" rating for the industry [6] Core Views - The report highlights that the easing of US-China tariffs has led to a short-term suppression of gold prices, but the long-term investment value of gold remains unchanged [10][11] - The industrial metals sector is characterized by a tight supply-demand balance, making prices more likely to rise than fall [12][13] - In the renewable energy metals sector, lithium prices are expected to remain stable, with strategic investment opportunities still available [16][17] - The report notes a potential easing of rare earth controls, creating a bullish sentiment in the market [18][20] Summary by Sections Precious Metals - The easing of tariffs between the US and China has created a short-term pressure on gold prices, but the long-term investment value remains intact. The report suggests focusing on companies like Zhongjin Gold, Shandong Gold, and Chifeng Jilong Gold [10][11][12] Industrial Metals - The supply-demand dynamics for copper remain tight, supporting price stability. The report anticipates that the Federal Reserve's potential interest rate cuts will further bolster copper prices in the medium to long term. Companies to watch include Zijin Mining, Luoyang Molybdenum, and Jincheng Mining [12][13][14] Renewable Energy Metals - The report indicates that while there may be a slight increase in export orders due to eased tariffs, the overall supply-demand balance for lithium remains weak in the short term. Strategic investment opportunities are highlighted for companies like Salt Lake Potash and Ganfeng Lithium [16][17] Other Minor Metals - The report suggests that the potential easing of rare earth controls could lead to increased prices, with companies like China Rare Earth and Northern Rare Earth being of interest [18][20]

Industry Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is maintained at "Outperform the Market" [1] Core Views - The report highlights that the precious metals market is experiencing fluctuations, with gold and silver showing volatility after the April non-farm payroll data exceeded expectations. The easing of tariff expectations and the appreciation of the offshore RMB may exert pressure on gold prices [4] - Copper prices are expected to oscillate around $9,300 due to intertwined trade and macro pricing dynamics, with recent tariff expectations improving market sentiment [5] - Aluminum prices may continue to rise in the short term due to strong domestic demand, but potential weakness is anticipated starting in the second half of 2025 [5] - Antimony prices are expected to remain high due to supply constraints, while tin prices are under pressure from anticipated restarts in Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo [6] Summary by Sections 1. Market Performance - The non-ferrous metals sector experienced a weekly decline of 0.7%, ranking 20th among sectors [13] 2. Prices - Basic metals saw slight declines: LME copper down 0.04%, aluminum down 0.14%, zinc down 1.15%, lead down 0.69%, and tin down 3.42%. Precious metals also faced declines, with COMEX gold down 2.49% and silver down 2.54% [18] 3. Inventory - Global visible inventories showed a decrease: copper down 2,489 tons, aluminum down 8,027 tons, zinc down 4,552 tons, lead down 4,721 tons, tin down 267 tons, and nickel down 432 tons [24]

Industry Investment Rating - The industry investment rating is maintained at "Outperform the Market" [1] Core Views - The report highlights that the precious metals market is experiencing fluctuations, with gold and silver showing volatility after the April non-farm payroll data exceeded expectations. The easing of tariff expectations and the appreciation of the offshore RMB may exert pressure on gold prices [4] - Copper prices are expected to oscillate around $9,300 due to intertwined trade and macro pricing dynamics, with recent tariff expectations improving market sentiment [5] - Aluminum prices may continue to rise in the short term due to strong domestic demand, but potential weakness is anticipated starting in the second half of 2025 [5] - Antimony prices are expected to remain high due to supply constraints, while tin prices are under pressure from anticipated restarts in Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of the Congo [6] Summary by Sections Industry Overview - The closing index for the industry is at 4603.44, with a weekly high of 5020.22 and a low of 3700.9 [1] Price Movements - Basic metals saw slight declines: LME copper down 0.04%, aluminum down 0.14%, zinc down 1.15%, lead down 0.69%, and tin down 3.42%. Precious metals also experienced declines, with COMEX gold down 2.49% and silver down 2.54% [18] Inventory Changes - Global visible inventories showed a decrease: copper down 2489 tons, aluminum down 8027 tons, zinc down 4552 tons, lead down 4721 tons, tin down 267 tons, and nickel down 432 tons [24]

Core Viewpoint - The article highlights increasing concerns over the supply of battery metals, particularly nickel and cobalt, due to tightening policies in key producing countries like Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which may disrupt the global electric vehicle supply chain [1][2][3]. Group 1: Nickel Supply Concerns - Indonesia, the world's largest nickel producer, has been signaling tighter control over nickel resources since 2025, with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources indicating a potential reduction in mining quotas to protect high-grade nickel reserves [1][2]. - The Indonesian Nickel Miners Association approved a mining quota of 298.5 million wet tons, higher than last year, but the government is reviewing this to prevent resource depletion [1][2]. - The planned increase in mining and processing costs includes raising the nickel mining tax rate from a fixed 10% to a range of 14%-19%, which could elevate operational costs for mining companies and ultimately increase nickel prices [1][2]. Group 2: Pricing Mechanisms and Market Impact - Indonesia is adjusting the calculation frequency of the metal mineral benchmark price (HPM) from monthly to twice a month to better reflect market values and capture price fluctuations, particularly during price increases [2]. - As of March 24, nickel prices in Indonesia have been rising, with a reported supply-demand gap of approximately 5,000 tons for battery-grade nickel sulfate in Q1 [2]. - The tightening supply from Indonesia is compounded by the Democratic Republic of Congo's efforts to manage global cobalt supply and prices amid its export ban [2][3]. Group 3: Broader Market Dynamics - The Philippines has also decided to halt new mining permits in key nickel-producing areas and may soon pass a bill to ban raw ore exports, aiming to develop its downstream processing industry [3]. - The increasing nationalism among resource-rich countries is driven by the desire to capitalize on the booming demand for electric vehicles, which has led to significant price volatility for lithium, cobalt, and nickel [3]. - The reliance on Indonesian MHP (Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate) for cobalt supply is creating new uncertainties regarding supply stability and costs, impacting the already high cobalt prices faced by ternary material producers [4]. Group 4: Production and Technological Implications - The high raw material costs are suppressing the purchasing willingness of downstream nickel sulfate manufacturers, leading to a reduction in production rates, with China's nickel sulfate production capacity operating at less than 50% as of March [4]. - Although low-cobalt strategies may alleviate some pressure on cobalt prices, the high-nickel route is crucial for enhancing the energy density of ternary batteries, which currently account for 40-50% of the ternary materials market [4]. - The tightening nickel supply could introduce uncertainties during a critical period for cost reduction and market penetration of next-generation battery technologies [4].

Investment Rating - Steel: Neutral [1] - Non-ferrous Metals: Positive [1] Core Views - The marginal improvement in the industry fundamentals is noted, with ongoing tariff policies causing market disruptions [1] - The steel sector is expected to see a recovery in demand due to increased funding for construction sites and warmer weather, although macroeconomic factors and overseas tariffs remain concerns [1][17] - Copper supply is tight, supporting prices, while domestic inventory has slightly decreased; future demand performance will be crucial for price movements [1][37] - Aluminum prices are supported by expectations of macroeconomic easing and solar energy installations, but overseas tariffs and trade policies pose risks [1][44] - Gold prices are supported by various factors, including increasing reserves in China and ongoing geopolitical tensions, with a focus on the progress of negotiations regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict [1][48] Summary by Sections Steel Industry - Supply has decreased, and inventory continues to decline, indicating a marginal improvement in fundamentals [17] - As of March 7, the total steel inventory was 18.58 million tons, down 0.93% from the previous period and down 24.02% year-on-year [26] - The average profit margins for hot-rolled and cold-rolled steel are negative, but have shown some improvement compared to the previous period [35] Copper Industry - High copper prices are suppressing demand, with slow recovery in downstream industries [36] - As of March 7, LME copper prices were $9,700 per ton, up 3.21% from the previous period [41] - Domestic copper inventory has slightly decreased, indicating potential upward pressure on prices if demand improves [37] Aluminum Industry - As of March 7, LME aluminum prices were $2,700 per ton, reflecting a 2.10% increase from the previous period [45] - The market is cautious, with downstream enterprises adopting a wait-and-see approach [44] Gold Industry - As of March 7, COMEX gold prices were $2,917.70 per ounce, up 1.76% from the previous period [48] - Various geopolitical factors and central bank purchases are supporting gold prices [48] Lithium Industry - The supply of lithium is expected to increase as some lithium salt plants resume normal production [2] - Policies such as "trade-in" and charging infrastructure subsidies are anticipated to stimulate downstream demand [2] Rare Earth and Minor Metals - As of March 7, light rare earth prices showed a slight decline, while heavy rare earth prices varied [56] - Tungsten and other minor metal prices have also seen slight decreases [60]