1. Report Industry Investment Rating - The rating for the trend of nickel and stainless steel is "sideways" [1] 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - The downstream demand weakness is gradually giving negative feedback to the upstream. The smelting sector is suffering large - scale losses, and only the MHP segment has a good profit margin. This will make smelters more inclined to push down the price of pyrometallurgical ores. In the third quarter, with the reduced impact of the rainy season in Indonesia, production and transportation efficiency will improve marginally, and the pyrometallurgical ores in Indonesia will face pressure of declining premiums. However, the supply of high - grade pyrometallurgical ores is tight, which may limit the decline in prices [2][70] - Currently, both upstream and downstream are squeezing the smelting profit to an inverted state. The output adjustment actions of Chinese - funded enterprises are less sensitive to profit. If the short - term production cut is less than expected, the oversupply situation may intensify. In terms of structure, new capacity of NPI in Indonesia is still being put into production, but most of the production schedules have been postponed. The supply - demand situation has deteriorated marginally. Attention should be paid to the production cut rhythm in the second half of the year. For refined nickel, it is still in the expansion cycle, but the share is gradually concentrating on the leading enterprises. The integration of hydrometallurgy squeezing pyrometallurgy is the future trend. The supply increment this year basically matches the increment of intermediate products. However, the current implicit inventory replenishment supports the explicit inventory, and its sustainability in the second half of the year needs to be monitored [3] - In the second half of the year, the nickel consumption side has declined compared with the initial expectations at the beginning of the year. For stainless steel, although the export side is okay, tariffs will indirectly suppress domestic demand. Due to weak demand, steel mills are suffering losses and cutting production, which weakens the nickel consumption. For ternary materials, it is estimated that the year - on - year decline in production in the second half of the year will narrow compared with the first half of the year. In general, the domestic ternary nickel consumption will decline by 14,000 metal tons year - on - year. Abroad, the ternary production capacity is gradually ramping up, which will make up for part of the reduction in China from a global perspective. Comprehensively, the consumption of nickel sulfate will show a slight decline [4] 3. Summary According to the Directory 3.1 Mineral End 3.1.1 Sulfide Nickel Ore - The production cut rhythm of sulfide nickel ore has slowed down, and the existing production lines are operating stably. Vale's Onça Puma operation area achieved higher production after the furnace reconstruction in Q1 2024, and Canada's VBME also promoted a large year - on - year increase in the sulfide nickel ore project in the Canadian region due to higher production. Russian nickel's production in Q1 2025 decreased by 1.1% year - on - year to 41,600 tons due to the short - term maintenance plans of the Nadezhda smelter and the Talnakh concentrator. Currently, Russian nickel is facing a decline in foreign currency income due to the appreciation of the ruble and the restriction of high - interest rates on investment plans. In the context of the trade war, weak demand may drag down the overall production. The company expects the total refined nickel production in 2025 to reach 204,000 - 211,000 tons, and it is more likely to fall on the left side of the range, basically flat year - on - year [23] - In Australia, the production of the currently operating nickel ore projects remained at a low level in the first quarter. The decline in ore grade has indirectly led to an increase in mining and processing costs and a marginal decrease in the final output of nickel products. BHP stopped the operation of its refined nickel production line in October last year. In Q1 2025, it only had a high - grade nickel matte production of 2,300 metal tons, and the mine end was completely shut down. The Mt Keith and Leinster nickel ore projects had zero production in Q1 2025, and the high - grade nickel matte project is also expected to stop production later. IGO has only had the Nova project since the fourth quarter of last year. In Q1 2025, its nickel production decreased by 6.5% year - on - year to 4,279 metal tons (only comparing Nova itself, the total production decreased by 34.4% year - on - year) and increased by 23% quarter - on - quarter. Although the nickel ore grade has been improved this quarter due to factors such as the mining sequence and the stoping area, the expected nickel ore grade this year is still at a historical low. It is estimated that the nickel production in the 2025 fiscal year will be on the left side of the guidance range (guidance: 15,000 - 18,000 tons). The Nova - Bollinger mine is expected to stop production at the end of Q4 2026 due to grade depletion [24] - Overall, after the large - scale clearance of high - cost production lines of sulfide nickel ore in 2024, the existing production capacity can basically maintain normal production and is no longer affected by the profit collapse. It is expected that except for the Nova project, which will stop production due to reserve issues, the production of other sulfide nickel ore projects will basically fluctuate within the current production range [28] 3.1.2 Laterite Nickel Ore - **Indonesia**: The expectation of ore shortage within the year has been alleviated, and the nickel ore price is under great pressure to decline in the third quarter. At the beginning of the year, although APNI announced that the annual nickel ore quota had been approved for about 298 million wet tons, the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources later set the annual nickel ore production target at 220 million wet tons and repeatedly stated that it would cut the RKAB nickel ore quota. Coupled with the heavy rainfall on the Greater K Island, the local transportation and supply rhythm were restricted, and the nickel ore premium quickly increased. As of the end of May, the approved RKAB quota in Indonesia was about 300 million wet tons. However, due to the long rainy season on the Greater K Island this year and the mismatch between the actual shipment capacity and production capacity of some mines that have obtained RKAB approvals, the supply of nickel ore in the market is still tight, and the domestic trade price has not weakened. It is estimated that the annual nickel ore consumption in Indonesia will reach 280 - 290 million wet tons, and the supply, after considering the supply efficiency based on the quota, is expected to be about 260 million wet tons, still having a certain supply - demand gap. This gap can be partly filled by importing nickel ore from the Philippines, but the cost is relatively high, which puts great pressure on smelters. In the second half of the year, there is still an import demand for Philippine nickel ore, but the year - on - year growth rate should slow down compared with the first half of the year, with an estimated annual import volume of over 14 million wet tons. If the domestic nickel ore quota in Indonesia is insufficient, mining enterprises can still apply for new quotas to expand the supply [29][32] - **Philippines**: There was a short - term supply - demand mismatch in the first half of the year, and the price is under great pressure to decline in the second half of the year. With the significant year - on - year increase in Indonesia's demand for Philippine nickel ore and the 4.7% year - on - year decline in the first - quarter production of Philippine nickel ore, the tight supply pattern of Philippine nickel ore has pushed up the price rapidly. The CIF price of 1.4% grade nickel ore from the Philippines to Indonesia and China has risen from $44 per wet ton at the beginning of the year to about $53 per wet ton in mid - June. It is estimated that the raw material demand will weaken marginally in the third quarter, and the price will be under pressure. The production of Philippine nickel ore has strong seasonality. Affected by the long rainy season this year, the first - quarter production decreased by 4.7% year - on - year. Based on the analysis of Indonesian nickel ore, the annual demand for Philippine nickel ore from Indonesia is supported, but the year - on - year growth rate slows down compared with the first half of the year. The iron plants in China are expected to maintain rigid demand. The annual production forecast of Philippine nickel ore is raised to 401,000 metal tons, a year - on - year decline of 1.3%. From the perspective of domestic imports and port inventories, Philippine nickel ore is still the main import source. The port inventory has decreased rapidly this year, and the overall domestic import volume has decreased significantly year - on - year. It is expected that the domestic import volume of Philippine nickel ore will continue to decline year - on - year before the ore price drops or the NPI profit recovers. In the first quarter, the income of major nickel ore enterprises in the Philippines increased significantly. Asian Nickel's first - quarter sales revenue increased by 16% year - on - year, but the combined EBITDA decreased by 80 million pesos year - on - year due to the increase in marginal cost caused by bad weather. The income of Global Ferronickel in the first quarter reached 1.22 billion pesos, and the net profit attributable to FNI shareholders increased significantly from 10.6 million pesos in the same period last year to 170 million pesos. In terms of new nickel ore projects, Asian Nickel has adjusted its exploration plan, with the South Upper Guintalunan project put into production at the end of 2024 and Manicani expected to contribute incremental production in 2025 [52][53][63] 3.1.3 Conclusion and Thoughts - The clearance process of high - cost sulfide nickel ore production lines is basically over. Except for the Nova project, which will stop production due to reserve issues, the production of other sulfide nickel ore projects will basically fluctuate within the current production range [70] - The supply of laterite nickel ore was tight in the first half of the year, and attention should be paid to the rhythm of ore supply loosening and price decline. The nickel ore market in Indonesia has felt tight since the beginning of 2025. The high import volume of Philippine nickel ore may be a last - resort measure due to the shortage. The "ore shortage" concern mentioned in the first - quarter report has been temporarily alleviated, but the annual supply is still tight, and new quotas may be released in the fourth quarter. Currently, the downstream demand weakness is giving negative feedback to the upstream. The smelting sector is suffering large - scale losses, and only the MHP segment has a good profit margin. This will make smelters more inclined to push down the price of pyrometallurgical ores. It is judged that in the third quarter, with the reduced impact of the rainy season in Indonesia, the pyrometallurgical ores in Indonesia will face pressure of declining premiums. However, the high - grade pyrometallurgical ores are still scarce in the market, which may limit the decline in price [70] 3.2 Smelting End 3.2.1 Nickel Iron - **China**: After the low - cost NPI from Indonesia has squeezed the domestic market share, the high - cost production lines of domestic nickel iron plants have basically been cleared. The domestic enterprises still in operation are mostly integrated with downstream steel mills for self - use, and only a small amount of marketable resources are still in production. It is expected that the domestic production will maintain a low - level fluctuation, and more expansion projects will be invested in Indonesia. It is relatively difficult to see further domestic production cuts, which may require the joint production cut of downstream stainless steel. In 2025, the monthly NPI production in China is basically between 22,000 - 25,000 metal tons. From January to May, the production decreased slightly to 115,000 metal tons compared with the same period last year. From January to April, the import volume was 442,000 metal tons, an increase of 62,000 metal tons or 16.4% year - on - year. Considering the expected weakening of stainless steel consumption in the future, it is estimated that the domestic NPI production will decrease by 10,000 metal tons to 290,000 metal tons this year. After the US reciprocal tariff was implemented in April, the demand for downstream stainless steel weakened significantly. In May, some cold - rolling mills began to cut production, which gradually led to a slowdown in NPI procurement and an accumulation of NPI social inventory. As of mid - June, the NPI inventory in major domestic regions reached 34,610 tons, with a year - on - year/quarter - on - quarter inventory accumulation rate of 57.9%/10% [75][79] - **Indonesia**: In the first half of 2025, 6 new submerged arc furnaces were put into production in Indonesia, and the production increase rate slowed down significantly, with a total new annual production capacity of about 90,000 metal tons. Currently, the total number of operating furnaces in Indonesia has reached 223, and the capacity utilization rate is about 70% - 80%. From January to May, the total NPI production in Indonesia was 751,000 metal tons, a year - on - year increase of 23%. From the cost - profit perspective, the current cost of a single nickel point in Indonesia is about 957 - 1040 yuan per nickel, and the corresponding gross profit margin at a price of 940 yuan per nickel (ex - ship, tax included) is between - 12% and - 3%. Both Chinese and Indonesian iron plants are in a loss state, and downstream steel mills have a strong intention to push down the raw material price. Although NPI has cost support and is restricted from further decline, there is no driving force for a rebound. If the nickel ore price drops as expected in the second half of the year and the stainless steel demand does not recover, NPI may face further price pressure due to cost reduction. It is believed that NPI will face production cut pressure in the second half of the year due to weakening demand and shrinking profit. If the production cut is less than expected, the balance sheet may further deteriorate, leading to a further decline in the NPI price. The overall production capacity expansion speed this year has slowed down significantly. In the first half of the year, only KPS, NMI, NNI, and CNI put a total of 6 furnaces into production, involving a production capacity of about 90,000 metal tons. Under the current industry competition, the new production line investment is often postponed, and some un - commissioned furnaces may be directly shut down [81] 3.2.2 Intermediate Products: High - Grade Nickel Matte and MHP - MHP is currently the product with the lowest cost and best profit in the smelting sector, showing a gradual expansion trend this year. However, due to the large initial investment, long pay - back period, and long construction period of hydrometallurgical production capacity, new entrants are mostly large - scale leading enterprises, and the production capacity release process is relatively slow. From January to May 2025, the total MHP production in Indonesia was 184,800 metal tons, a year - on - year increase of 66%. In late March, due to environmental factors, some hydrometallurgical production lines were shut down, resulting in a month - on - month decrease of about 7,000 metal tons in production, which was fully recovered in mid - May. As of June, the commissioned MHP production lines have basically reached full production or even over - production, and future production growth depends on the new production capacity release speed [92] - In the first quarter, the economic efficiency of high - grade nickel matte was worse than that of NPI produced by the same RKEF production line. Since the conversion between RKEF production of NPI and high - grade nickel matte is very flexible, most production lines such as Zhongwei, Huake, and Xuri switched to NPI production, and the high - grade nickel matte production decreased rapidly. From January to May 2025, the total production of low - grade and high - grade nickel matte in Indonesia (excluding the part of low - grade nickel matte converted to high - grade nickel matte) was 114,000 metal tons, a year - on - year decrease of 10.8%, lower than the levels in 2023 and 2024. The oxygen - enriched side - blowing production line is only used for high - grade nickel matte production, but its current production capacity accounts for a relatively low proportion. In May, the production of high - grade nickel matte from the oxygen - enriched side - blowing production accounted for about 14% [93] - Considering the combined monthly metal production of MHP and high - grade nickel matte, it has shown a rapid downward trend since the beginning of the year. Even when combined with the NPI metal production, it has shown a slight downward trend, which may reflect the tight supply of nickel ore. Looking forward, if the smelting sector is reluctant to cut production despite strong downstream negative feedback and the nickel ore supply is expected to loosen, and if the combined metal production of the three shows a marginal upward trend, the high demand for nickel ore will continue, which will limit the decline in nickel ore price, and the high - price nickel ore will squeeze the smelting profit and limit production expansion. On the contrary, if the smelting sector cuts production due to profit inversion, the demand for raw materials will weaken, and the nickel ore price may decline, leading to a simultaneous decline in smelting production and cost. Overall, under the continuous downstream negative feedback, it is believed that the smelting production will likely decline in the future, and the profit inversion will also put pressure on the nickel ore price. As long as the nickel ore supply loosens marginally, it will prompt the smelting sector to re - establish a balance at a reasonable low level [94] - China mainly imports intermediate products, with

Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. Core Views of the Report - Macroeconomic situation: US economic soft data shows signs of weakening, with the labor market remaining stable overall. The Fed maintains the current policy rate but emphasizes future economic uncertainty, raising inflation expectations and lowering economic growth forecasts. There are stagflation risks, and macro - pressure persists [3]. - Fundamental situation: Nickel ore prices stay high, with most Indonesian ferronickel plants in a cost - upside - down state, and some plan to cut production. Traditional terminals remain weak, stainless - steel prices decline, suppressing steel mills' restocking. New - energy consumption performs well, and overall demand is slightly weak. Supply shows signs of narrowing, but the export window is open, keeping supply at a relatively high level [3]. - Future outlook: With the escalation of the Israel - Iran conflict and the potential rise in global crude oil prices, US inflation pressure may increase. Fundamentals may be revised, mainly driven by production - cut expectations due to low corporate profits. Consumption may remain stable, with traditional sectors weak and the new - energy sector potentially having an increase. Nickel prices may rebound slightly [3]. Summary by Relevant Catalogs 1. Market Data Summary - SHFE nickel price decreased from 119,690 yuan/ton to 118,280 yuan/ton, a drop of 1,410 yuan/ton; LME nickel price fell from 15,069 dollars/ton to 15,011 dollars/ton, a decrease of 58 dollars/ton [5]. - LME inventory increased by 7,602 tons to 205,140 tons, while SHFE inventory decreased by 681 tons to 21,669 tons [5]. - Jinchuan nickel premium increased by 100 yuan/ton to 2,650 yuan/ton, and Russian nickel premium rose by 50 yuan/ton to 550 yuan/ton [5]. - High - nickel pig iron average price decreased from 947 yuan/nickel point to 942 yuan/nickel point [5]. - Stainless - steel inventory increased from 91.7 tons to 92.6 tons, an increase of 0.9 tons [5]. 2. Market Review - **Nickel ore**: Philippine nickel ore prices rose, while Indonesian domestic nickel ore prices declined. The acceptance of high - priced ore by downstream is weak, and July pre - sales transactions are scarce [6]. - **Ferronickel**: High - nickel pig iron prices dropped. Chinese ferronickel production in May increased, and imports decreased. Indonesian ferronickel production in May increased year - on - year and decreased month - on - month. Ferronickel may face the most pressure in the industry chain, with high upstream costs and weak downstream demand [7]. - **Nickel sulfate**: Battery - grade and electroplating - grade nickel sulfate prices decreased. June production is expected to decline year - on - year and month - on - month. Ternary material production increased. Downstream inventory decreased, and upstream inventory increased. Nickel sulfate prices may continue to be weak [8]. - **Macro and fundamentals**: US economic soft data weakened, with consumption and output growth rates declining. The Fed maintains the current interest rate policy but raises inflation expectations and lowers economic growth forecasts. In terms of supply, domestic production capacity is stable in June, but smelter production schedules decline. In terms of consumption, new - energy vehicle sales in the first half of June increased year - on - year, but the growth rate in the second week weakened. Inventory shows a mixed trend, with LME inventory increasing and SHFE inventory decreasing [8][9][10]. 3. Industry News - Indonesia lowers the reference price for the second - phase nickel ore domestic trade in June by about 1.19% compared to the first - phase [14]. - Indonesia plans to punish a nickel park suspected of violating environmental regulations, which may affect some major nickel suppliers [14]. - Toyota Tsusho and LG Energy Solution plan to establish a joint venture for automotive battery recycling in North America, aiming to recycle valuable metals from battery waste [14]. 4. Relevant Charts The report provides charts on domestic and international nickel prices, spot premiums, LME 0 - 3 nickel premiums, nickel domestic - to - foreign ratios, nickel futures inventory, nickel ore port inventory, high - nickel iron prices, 300 - series stainless - steel prices, and stainless - steel inventory [16][18].

1. Report Industry Investment Ratings No industry investment ratings were provided in the given reports. 2. Core Views of the Reports Nickel and Stainless Steel - The expectation of the nickel ore end in the long - term is loosening, and the smelting end restricts the upward elasticity of nickel prices. Global refined nickel inventories are increasing marginally. Stainless steel supply and demand are both weakening marginally, and steel prices are oscillating at a low level [4][5]. Industrial Silicon and Polysilicon - Industrial silicon has a fast short - term warehouse receipt clearance, but the upside space is limited. Polysilicon should maintain a short - selling strategy. The fundamentals of both show an oversupply situation [30][34][35]. Carbonate Lithium - The supply of carbonate lithium is increasing while the demand is decreasing. The price is expected to be under pressure, showing a weak oscillation. Opportunities for short - selling at high prices and reverse spreads should be awaited [62][63][64]. Palm Oil and Soybean Oil - Palm oil is in a pattern of weak reality and strong expectation. The short - term pressure comes from the resumption of production, and the strategy is mainly based on spread expressions. There are potential long - term bullish factors. Soybean oil is also in a weak - reality and strong - expectation pattern, with potential upward space after the third quarter [88][89][91]. 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs Nickel and Stainless Steel Nickel - **Fundamentals**: The logic of the ore end is dull, and the smelting end restricts the upside space. The global refined nickel inventory is increasing marginally, and the nickel - iron is in a state of surplus and inventory accumulation. The price of nickel is affected by factors such as the expected increase in Indonesian quotas and the possible removal of the Philippine raw ore export ban [4]. - **Inventory Changes**: China's refined nickel social inventory decreased by 1,437 tons to 36,471 tons, while LME nickel inventory increased by 7,602 tons to 205,140 tons. The mid - June nickel - iron inventory increased by 58% year - on - year and 10% month - on - month [6][7]. - **Market News**: There are various events such as the potential suspension of nickel exports from Canada to the US, the trial production of a nickel - iron project in Indonesia, the resumption of production of a nickel smelter, and the shutdown of a cold - rolling mill [10]. Stainless Steel - **Fundamentals**: Production and imports are decreasing marginally, the inventory pressure remains, and the steel price is expected to oscillate at a low level in the short term. In the long term, the price center may be difficult to lift significantly [5]. - **Inventory Changes**: The total social inventory of stainless steel increased by 1.04% week - on - week, with increases in both cold - rolled and hot - rolled inventories [7]. Industrial Silicon and Polysilicon Industrial Silicon - **Price Movement**: The industrial silicon futures rebounded slightly this week, and the spot price remained stable. The futures closed at 7,390 yuan/ton on Friday [30]. - **Supply - Demand Fundamentals**: The industry inventory is de - stocking again. The supply is expected to increase as factories in Xinjiang and Sichuan continue to resume production. The demand from downstream industries has short - term increases in some aspects but is still mainly based on rigid demand [31][32]. - **Future Outlook**: The strategy is to short at high prices. The follow - up focus is on the warehouse receipt situation. The high inventory restricts the upside space of the futures price [34]. Polysilicon - **Price Movement**: The polysilicon futures declined significantly this week, and the spot price is also expected to decrease [30]. - **Supply - Demand Fundamentals**: The upstream inventory is slightly de - stocking. The supply is expected to increase as some factories resume production, while the terminal demand is declining, and the silicon wafer production is expected to be adjusted downward [31][32][33]. - **Future Outlook**: The strategy is to short at high prices. The price is expected to continue to decline towards the real cost line [35]. Carbonate Lithium - **Price Movement**: The main contract of carbonate lithium oscillated downward. The 2507 contract closed at 59,820 yuan/ton, down 120 yuan/ton week - on - week, and the spot price decreased by 250 yuan/ton to 60,400 yuan/ton [62]. - **Supply - Demand Fundamentals**: The supply is increasing as the production and operating rate of the smelting end are growing. The demand is weakening as new energy vehicle sales show no significant increase, and the energy storage demand is expected to decline after reaching a peak in May. The inventory is accumulating [63]. - **Future Outlook**: The price is expected to oscillate weakly. Short - selling at high prices after the long - buying intention of the near - month contract is clear and reverse spreads after the end of June are recommended [64][65]. Palm Oil and Soybean Oil Palm Oil - **Last Week's Logic**: The 09 contract rose by 4.86% due to the sudden positive news of the US biodiesel obligation and the geopolitical tension in the Middle East [88]. - **This Week's Logic**: The production in Malaysia is expected to be flat or slightly decrease in June. The export is strong, and there is a strong expectation of inventory reduction in June. It is in a pattern of weak reality and strong expectation. The short - term strategy is based on spread expressions, and long - buying can be considered at low levels before the fourth quarter [89]. Soybean Oil - **Last Week's Logic**: The 09 contract rose by 4.75% due to the sudden positive news of the US biodiesel obligation and the geopolitical tension in the Middle East [88]. - **This Week's Logic**: Internationally, the US EPA's policy will lead to an increase in the demand for soybean oil. Domestically, the inventory is accumulating currently but may reach a peak in July. It is also in a weak - reality and strong - expectation pattern, and long - buying opportunities can be observed in the fourth quarter [90][91].

1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content was found. 2. Core Viewpoints of the Report - The macro - economic situation shows that US inflation data is weakening, labor market is stable, and there are certain results in Sino - US trade negotiations. Geopolitical risks are rising, and the US - Iran conflict may push up the US dollar index and put pressure on nickel prices. [2] - Fundamentally, the risk of resource disturbances has decreased as the Philippines cancels the nickel ore export ban. Indonesia's resource supply is tight, and the high ore price provides cost support. The demand for stainless steel and nickel sulfate is weak, and the supply side has also weakened, resulting in a situation of weak supply and demand. [2] - In the later stage, macro factors may cause periodic disturbances, and the weak fundamental expectation will continue. Nickel prices will continue to fluctuate at a low level. [2] 3. Summary by Relevant Catalogs 3.1 Market Data - SHFE nickel price dropped from 122,710 yuan/ton on June 9, 2025, to 119,920 yuan/ton on June 13, 2025, a decrease of 2,790 yuan/ton. LME nickel price decreased from 15,421 US dollars/ton to 15,128 US dollars/ton, a decline of 293 US dollars/ton. [4] - LME nickel inventory decreased by 2,568 tons to 197,538 tons, while SHFE nickel inventory increased by 573 tons to 21,765 tons. [4] - The average price of high - nickel pig iron dropped from 960 yuan/nickel point to 947 yuan/nickel point. [4] - Stainless steel inventory increased from 893,000 tons to 917,000 tons, an increase of 23,500 tons. [4] 3.2 Market Review 3.2.1 Nickel Ore - The FOB price of 1.5% laterite nickel ore in the Philippines rose from 50 US dollars/wet ton to 51.55 US dollars/wet ton. The FOB price of 1.5% laterite nickel ore in Indonesia remained at 41.3 US dollars/wet ton. The resource disturbance risk has been eliminated, but the supply in Indonesia is still tight, and the cost side is supported. [5] 3.2.2 Ferronickel - The price of high - nickel pig iron (10% - 12%) dropped from 951.5 yuan/nickel point to 934.5 yuan/nickel point. In May, China's nickel pig iron production was expected to be about 26,260 metal tons, a month - on - month increase of 3.15%. In April, domestic ferronickel imports totaled about 816,900 tons, a year - on - year increase of 12.9% and a month - on - month decrease of 19.38%. In May, Indonesia's ferronickel production was expected to be 142,600 nickel tons, a year - on - year and month - on - month increase/decrease of 16.9%/ - 0.47%. The cost pressure on ferronickel plants is prominent. [6] 3.2.3 Nickel Sulfate - The price of battery - grade nickel sulfate remained at 27,815 yuan/ton, and the price of electroplating - grade nickel sulfate remained at 30,000 yuan/ton. In June, the expected production of nickel sulfate metal was about 25,425 tons, a year - on - year and month - on - month decrease of 16.61%/ - 2.27%. The production of ternary materials increased slightly, but the demand is expected to have no increment. [7] 3.2.4 Macro and Fundamental Aspects - In the macro - aspect, US economic data is generally good, inflation is in a downward channel, and there are certain results in Sino - US trade negotiations. [7][8] - In the fundamental aspect, on the supply side, the smelting start - up rate has decreased, but the export window is still open. In terms of terminal consumption, the new - energy vehicle market had good sales at the beginning of June, but it is in the off - season, and consumption is difficult to boost significantly. [8][9] 3.3 Industry News - The Philippines' Senate and House of Representatives decided to cancel the nickel ore export ban clause in the final law, and the PNIA welcomed this decision. [12] - ITSS nickel - iron plant's No. 14 furnace was successfully restarted after maintenance. [12] - Sino - US economic and trade consultations achieved new progress, and the two sides reached a consensus on the measures framework to implement the important consensus of the leaders' phone call and consolidate the results of the Geneva economic and trade talks. [12] 3.4 Relevant Charts The report provides 10 charts, including the trends of domestic and foreign nickel prices, spot premiums and discounts, LME 0 - 3 nickel premiums and discounts, nickel domestic - foreign ratios, nickel futures inventory, nickel ore port inventory, high - nickel iron prices, 300 - series stainless steel prices, and stainless steel inventory. [14][16]

2025年06月15日 国泰君安期货研究周报 观点与策略 | 镍：矿端担忧有所降温，冶炼供应弹性饱满 | 2 | | --- | --- | | 不锈钢：负反馈传导减产增加，供需双弱低位震荡 | 2 | | 工业硅：上游继续复产，空配思路为主 | 11 | | 多晶硅：关注下周仓单注册信息，反弹后空配 | 11 | | 碳酸锂：矿价企稳，产量回升，偏弱震荡，建议反套 | 20 | | 全国碳市场：CEA大幅反弹，CCER活跃度攀升 | 29 | | 棕榈油：美国生柴政策利好，带动油脂上行 | 33 | | 豆油：压榨恢复较好，国内油脂弱于国际 | 33 | | 豆粕：生柴政策利多美豆，偏强震荡 | 38 | | 豆一：豆类市场氛围偏多，偏强震荡 | 38 | | 玉米：高位震荡 | 44 | | 白糖：低位整理 | 50 | | 棉花：商业库存下降快支撑棉价 | 57 | | 生猪：降重路径改变，等待现货印证 | 64 | | 花生：震荡行情 | 70 | 请务必阅读正文之后的免责条款部分 1 期货研究 商 品 研 究 国 泰 君 安 期 货 研 究 所 二 〇 二 五 年 度 1）中国精炼社会库存减少 92 ...

所长 早读 国泰君安期货 2025-06-13 期 请务必阅读正文之后的免责条款部分 1 期货研究 期货研究 | 板块 | 关注指数 | | --- | --- | | 纯碱 | ★★★★ | 纯碱：趋势仍偏弱。近期纯碱供应端 5 月减产的装置逐步复产，在需求端玻璃行业持续弱势 导致采购积极性较差，纯碱库存逐步攀升。纯碱库存开始小幅攀升，市场压力加大，部分厂 2025-06-13 所长 早读 请务必阅读正文之后的免责条款部分 2 今 日 发 现 美国 5 月 PPI 环比温和上涨，核心通胀降至近一年新低， 年内两次降息预期恢复 观点分享： 6 月 12 日，美国劳工统计局公布，美国 5 月 PPI 同比 2.6%，预期 2.6%，前值 2.4%； 美国 5 月核心 PPI 同比 3.0%，创下 2024 年 8 月以来的最低水平，预期 3.1%，前值 3.1%； 环比来看，5 月 PPI 环比仅上涨 0.1%，低于经济学家预期的 0.2%。核心 PPI 同样仅上涨 0.1%，其中商品价格(不含食品和能源)上涨 0.2%，服务价格上涨 0.1%。同日，美国劳工部 公布的数据显示，美国 6 月 7 日当周首次申请 ...

Group 1 - Nickel prices have recently declined due to the Philippines' decision to remove the export ban on raw minerals, which has impacted market sentiment and led to a drop in prices [1] - The Philippines aims to promote domestic mining development by implementing a mineral export ban similar to Indonesia's, but the current weak demand in stainless steel and new energy sectors has dampened investment motivation [1][2] - Indonesia has become the largest producer of nickel globally, and its new nickel mining quota approval policy has slowed down the approval process, affecting market dynamics [2][3] Group 2 - Despite the recent drop in nickel prices, the supply of nickel ore remains tight due to seasonal weather impacts in both Indonesia and the Philippines, which has kept prices relatively high [3][4] - Domestic nickel iron smelting plants are experiencing losses, leading to reduced production and a decline in procurement demand [4][5] - The production of nickel intermediate products, particularly MHP, is expected to increase, which may lead to a further decline in cost levels in the industry [7][9] Group 3 - The demand for refined nickel has shown positive growth, particularly driven by the emerging need for pre-plated nickel materials in battery production, which is expected to create a significant supply-demand gap [13] - Traditional demand from stainless steel production is weakening, with notable reductions in output and a slower pace of inventory depletion [14][15] - The overall supply tightness in nickel ore and intermediate products is expected to provide cost support for nickel prices, although weak terminal demand may limit price increases [17]

1. Report Industry Investment Rating No relevant content provided. 2. Core Views of the Report - Macro level: US economic soft data has been revised, but the Fed's attitude remains hawkish, and the game between Powell and Trump will continue. Tariff risks have resurfaced, and the court's ruling on Trump's tariffs has been postponed. The "TACO" trading strategy is prevalent, and policy disturbances may be quickly repaired [3]. - Cost aspect: The shortage of nickel ore in Indonesia persisted throughout the month, and the price of laterite nickel ore continued to rise. Although there was information about a significant increase in the nickel ore approval quota in Indonesia in the middle of the month, the nickel ore price did not loosen, and cost support remained [3]. - Fundamental supply and demand: Both supply and demand decreased. The production of electrolytic nickel contracted slightly, but the export window remained open, and the overall domestic supply remained at a high level. The production of stainless steel decreased for the second consecutive month, and the inventory - reduction process was tortuous. The easing of tariffs did not effectively drive stainless - steel consumption. The production schedule of ternary materials was generally stable, and there were no obvious marginal changes in the fundamentals [3]. - Outlook: Trump's tariff policy may cause periodic disturbances at the macro level, but the policy disturbances may be quickly repaired. On the fundamentals, driven by the export window, the domestic supply of electrolytic nickel may remain at a high level. The inventory of stainless steel is being reduced, but the progress is slow, and the effect of rushing to export may be difficult to materialize. The new - energy consumption growth rate is gradually slowing down, and it is difficult for the demand side to show obvious increments. Overall, there is no expectation of improvement in the fundamentals, the cost - support logic remains, and the macro level may have periodic disturbances, but the correction expectation is strong. Nickel prices may fluctuate at a low level [3][40]. 3. Summary According to Relevant Catalogs 3.1 Market Review - In May, the main contract of Shanghai nickel fluctuated weakly. At the beginning of May, due to the boost of the China - US trade agreement, the macro - expectation was repaired, and the nickel price rose. However, as the stainless - steel inventory remained high, the expectation of rushing to export was frustrated, and the price weakened. In the late month, the rumor of a significant increase in the nickel ore approval quota in Indonesia dragged down the nickel price, but the price quickly recovered after the fall [8]. - The spot premium of refined nickel first weakened and then strengthened. Although the nickel price declined in May, the downstream purchasing enthusiasm was limited. The premium decreased from 2400 yuan at the beginning of the month to 2150 yuan on May 22nd. At the end of the month, affected by the sharp decline in the nickel price, the downstream purchasing was stimulated, and the premium rose from 2150 yuan on the 22nd to 2600 yuan on the 30th [10]. 3.2 Macro Analysis Overseas - US economic data was mixed. In April, the year - on - year growth rate of the US core PCE was 2.5%, in line with expectations, and the inflation pressure eased. The manufacturing performance was below expectations, with the ISM manufacturing PMI in May at 48.5. The labor market was generally stable [13]. - Tariff risks remained, but the actual disturbance was limited. Trump's tariff policy was initially stopped by the court but then the ruling was postponed. Although Trump raised tariffs on steel and aluminum products on May 30th, the market believes that his tariff policy will still follow the "high - start and low - end" pattern, and the "TACO" trading strategy is still popular, so the actual impact is limited [14]. Domestic - The performance of the manufacturing industry was divided, indicating that domestic demand was stronger than foreign trade. In May, China's official manufacturing PMI was 49.5, in line with expectations, and the demand - side data improved. However, the Caixin manufacturing PMI was weaker, reflecting the difficulties faced by small and medium - sized private manufacturing enterprises [15]. - Domestic consumption vitality was increasing. In April, the cumulative year - on - year growth rate of the total retail sales of social consumer goods increased for the second consecutive month, and the CPI growth rate was repaired [16]. 3.3 Fundamental Analysis 3.3.1 Nickel Ore Shortage Continued, and Ore Prices Kept Rising - The price of laterite nickel ore in Indonesia (1.5%) increased from $39.1 per wet ton to $40.8 per wet ton, while the price of 1.5% - grade nickel ore in the Philippines decreased from $51 per wet ton to $48.5 per wet ton. The supply of nickel ore in Indonesia was tight, and the price remained strong. Although there was news of an increase in the approval quota, the price did not loosen. The continuous rainfall in Indonesia and the Philippines affected the shipment of nickel ore [17]. - In April, China's nickel - ore imports were 291.41 tons, a year - on - year decrease of 1.03%. As of May 30th, the domestic port inventory was about 725.88 tons, a slight increase compared with the end of April but still at an absolute low level in the past three years [19]. 3.3.2 Electrolytic Nickel Supply Contracted Month - on - Month, and Upstream Cost Pressure Was Prominent - In May, the total output of refined nickel in China was 35,350 tons, a year - on - year increase of 37.82%. The capacity utilization rate was 65.34%, 16.13 percentage points lower than the expected level, and the over - capacity pattern continued. In April, the profit margins of all process lines of integrated electrowinning nickel decreased [20]. - In April, China imported 19,157 tons of refined nickel, a year - on - year increase of about 135.76%. The export volume was about 17,216 tons, a year - on - year and month - on - month increase of 150.3% and 18.51% respectively. The export window remained open, and the average monthly export profit in May was repaired to $204.78 per ton [22]. 3.3.3 Weak Downstream Buying, and Nickel - Iron Inventory Continued to Accumulate - In May, the price of high - nickel pig iron declined from 959 yuan per nickel point at the beginning of the month to 954 yuan per nickel point at the end of the month [24]. - In May, China's nickel - iron output was 25,800 metal tons, a month - on - month increase of 1.33%. In June, the expected production was 25,640 metal tons, a month - on - month decrease of 0.59%. The cost was strong, and only the Shandong pyrometallurgical BF process could maintain good profits, while the RKEF and EF processes had negative profit margins. The production of 300 - series stainless steel decreased for two consecutive months, and the terminal consumption was still weak. As of May 30th, the domestic nickel - iron inventory was about 275,500 tons (physical tons), an increase of about 27,500 tons compared with the end of April [25]. - In April, the domestic nickel - iron imports were about 816,900 tons, a year - on - year increase of 12.9% and a month - on - month decrease of 19.38%. The imports from Indonesia accounted for about 97.28% [26]. 3.3.4 No Obvious Increment in Demand, and the Expectation of Nickel Sulfate Was Stable - In May, the price of nickel sulfate fluctuated weakly. The price of battery - grade nickel sulfate decreased from 28,085 yuan per ton at the beginning of the month to 27,915 yuan per ton, and the price of electroplating - grade nickel sulfate decreased to about 30,000 yuan per ton [28]. - In May, the output of nickel sulfate was 26,015 tons (metal content), a year - on - year decrease of 20.51% and a month - on - month increase of 0.39%. The output of ternary materials increased. The output of 5 - series and 8 - series ternary cathode materials decreased month - on - month, while the production of 6 - series ternary materials expanded. Except for the process of producing nickel sulfate from nickel beans, which was still in a loss state, the profit margins of other process lines were positive. In April, China imported about 32,604 tons of nickel sulfate and exported 567 tons [29]. 3.3.5 Supply Contracted, and Inventory Was Slowly Reduced - In May, the price of 300 - series stainless steel increased slightly. The production of 300 - series stainless steel decreased for two consecutive months, and the net export scale in April decreased slightly. The downstream demand had no obvious increment. As of May 30th, the inventory of 300 - series stainless steel was 606,200 tons, a decrease of 32,600 tons compared with the end of April, but the inventory - reduction strength was less than the production - reduction strength, reflecting weak consumption [31]. 3.3.6 Limited Growth in the Power Sector, and the Industrial Track May Shift - From January to April, the cumulative sales volume of new - energy vehicles was about 4.3 million, a year - on - year increase of 46.26%. From May 1st to 25th, the retail sales of the new - energy passenger - vehicle market were 726,000, a year - on - year increase of 31%, but the growth rate was lower than the nearly 40% growth rate at the beginning of the year. The new - energy vehicle sales in May were generally stable, but the consumption increment momentum weakened [34]. - In the later stage, the sales increment of new - energy vehicles in the third quarter may be weak. The new - energy consumption policy is gradually shifting to new - energy heavy - duty trucks, ships and other transportation fields, which may partially fill the demand gap caused by the weakening of passenger - vehicle consumption [34]. 3.3.7 Supply Contraction Dragged Down Inventory Reduction - As of May 30, 2025, the domestic refined - nickel social inventory was about 41,553 tons, a decrease of 3,048 tons compared with the end of April; the SHFE inventory was 22,299 tons, a decrease of 2,009 tons compared with the end of April; the LME nickel inventory was 201,462 tons, an increase of 144 tons compared with the end of April. The supply reduction was slightly greater than the inventory - reduction amount, and the demand side was relatively weaker. In June, the domestic supply is expected to further contract, but the export window remains open, and the fundamentals may continue the pattern of weak supply and demand. The spot inventory may continue to be reduced due to the supply contraction [36]. 3.4 Market Outlook - Supply: The export window remains open, and the supply may remain at a high level [40]. - Demand: Steel - enterprise production control may suppress the production scale of stainless steel, and the expectation of rushing to export has not been fulfilled. The production schedule of ternary materials is expected to be stable [40]. - Cost: Although the nickel - ore approval quota in Indonesia has increased, the shortage situation has not been alleviated, and the ore price remains high [40]. - Macro: Tariff risks remain, but the "TACO" trading may quickly correct the situation [40].

Lifezone Metals (LZM) Update Summary Company Overview - **Company**: Lifezone Metals (LZM) - **Project**: Kibanga Nickel Project - **Location**: Tanzania Key Points and Arguments Economic Assessment - The initial assessment is the first economic study in Kibanga's fifty-year history, demonstrating robust economics and a vertically integrated strategy [5][6] - The study outlines a 22-year mine plan based on measured, indicated, and inferred resources for a 3,400,000 tonne per annum underground mine [10] - The initial assessment includes processing of approximately 70 million tonnes grading 1.93% nickel, 0.26% copper, and 0.14% cobalt [11][12] Production and Recovery - Expected recoveries from metallurgical test work are 87.3% for nickel, 95.7% for copper, and 89.6% for cobalt, resulting in a high nickel concentrate of 17.3% with low impurities [12] - The refinery will produce 50,000 tons of nickel sulfate hexahydrate per annum, along with copper and cobalt products [15] Logistics and Infrastructure - Kibanga is 1,500 kilometers from the Port of Dar Es Salaam, but recent investments in bulk infrastructure and rail have improved logistics [17] - Concentrates will be transported approximately 450 kilometers to Isaka, then via a new standard gauge railway to the port for export [18] Environmental and Social Governance (ESG) - The company adheres to high standards and best practices, meeting IFC performance standards and global industry standards for tailings management [19] - Environmental and social impact assessments have been completed and approved by the Tanzanian government, with 96% of required cash compensations already paid [21] Exploration Potential - Significant upside in resource growth potential has been identified, with four high-priority exploration targets representing 17,500,000 to 23,500,000 tonnes grading 1.9% to 2.1% nickel equivalent [23] Financial Metrics - All-in sustaining costs are projected at $2.71 per pound, positioning Kibanga as one of the lowest-cost nickel producers globally [26] - Total revenue is estimated at $23.6 billion, with $8 billion in free cash flow and an NPV of $2.37 billion, indicating strong financial viability [29][30] Market Positioning - Kibanga aims to compete with Indonesia's dominant market share by leveraging its superior grade and lower production costs [27][28] - The project is well-positioned to benefit from potential increases in nickel prices, with current prices around $15,000 to $16,000 per ton [34] Future Milestones - The Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) is expected to be delivered in July 2025, which will include a reserve statement and more detailed project timelines [36][42] Government Support - The Tanzanian government has shown strong support for the project, classifying it as a strategic priority and providing incentives for development [52][53][54] Additional Important Content - The company emphasizes the importance of capital efficiency, achieving a capital efficiency ratio of over 1 for both the mining concentrator and the fully integrated project [31][32] - Risks include nickel price volatility and competition from Indonesian producers, but the company has taken steps to mitigate these risks through strategic planning and infrastructure development [33][45][46]

Report Information - Report Title: Nickel Daily Report [1] - Date: May 21, 2025 [2] - Research Team: Nonferrous Metals Research Team, including Yu Feifei, Zhang Ping, and Peng Jinglin [3] 1. Investment Rating - No investment rating information is provided in the report. 2. Core View - Fundamental news is temporarily empty, and nickel prices are running weakly in a narrow range. On the 20th, Shanghai Nickel 2506 closed at 122,870, down 0.83%. The total open interest of the index increased by 13,758 to 172,759 lots. Recently, the prices of related products in the nickel industry chain have weakened, but the decline is still limited. With relatively empty news, nickel prices are running weakly. Wait patiently for low - buying opportunities [8]. 3. Summary by Directory 3.1 Market Review and Operation Suggestions - **Market Performance**: On the 20th, Shanghai Nickel 2506 closed at 122,870, down 0.83%, and the total open interest of the index increased by 13,758 to 172,759 lots. The spot premium remained generally stable, with the Jinchuan premium at 2,150 yuan/ton and the Russian nickel premium at 200 yuan/ton [8]. - **Fundamentals**: Indonesian nickel ore prices remained strong, with the mainstream premium of domestic trade ore this week still at 26 - 28 US dollars/wet ton. Philippine ore prices declined slightly due to increased shipments and weakened demand but were overall easy to rise and difficult to fall under the support of Indonesian ore prices. London inventory increased again to 202,000 tons, weakening the price support. The price of nickel sulfate remained flat at 27,995 yuan/ton, the ternary demand was weak, and downstream enterprises generally maintained a low - inventory strategy [8]. - **Operation Suggestion**: Wait patiently for low - buying opportunities [8]. 3.2 Industry News - **Indonesian Domestic Trade Ore Benchmark Price**: In the second half of May, HMA was 15,415 US dollars/ton, up 366 US dollars/ton. SMM predicted that the HPM benchmark price of Indonesian domestic trade ore (MC35%) in the second half of May would increase for different grades of nickel ore [11]. - **Talon Metals**: Talon Metals found a high - grade nickel sample in Minnesota, which is part of a 65 - million - dollar exploration plan. The company is conducting a feasibility study and starting the approval process, planning to transport the mined ore to North Dakota for processing [12]. - **Global Ferronickel Holdings, Inc. (GFNI)**: In April 2025, GFNI exported 56,625 wet metric tons of low - grade nickel ore to Indonesia for the first time. The company aims to complete 91 shipments totaling 5 million WMT in 2025, with an expected shipment structure of 53% low - grade and 47% medium - grade ores. It is expected to achieve double - digit revenue growth in 2025 [12]. - **Ivanhoe Mining**: On May 8, Ivanhoe Mining announced that its subsidiary Ivanplats entered the Flatreef ore body on May 7. The project has completed a certain amount of tunnel construction, and the produced ore will be stored on the surface for the first feeding of the concentrator in the fourth quarter [13].