Event Summary - The annual report disclosure schedule for 2025 has been released, with ChipGuide Technology being the first to disclose on February 3, 2026, and *ST Huawang on February 13, 2026 [1] Industry Insights - Key sectors expected to show improved or sustained high growth in annual report performance include "price-increasing commodities," "new energy and high-end manufacturing," "export-oriented sectors," and "TMT sectors with strong or improving demand" [1] - In the "price-increasing commodities" category, items with price increases exceeding 200% include black tungsten concentrate, VC, and lithium hexafluorophosphate, while those with increases over 100% include platinum and cobalt [4] - The new energy and high-end manufacturing sector is benefiting from high growth in military equipment orders and expanding demand for industrial robots and energy storage [6] - The export sector has seen significant growth, with high-tech and electromechanical product exports increasing by 7.7% and 9.7% year-on-year, respectively [6] Company Performance - A list of companies expected to see net profit growth exceeding 50% for the year has been compiled, based on preliminary quarterly report data [8] - Notable companies include Yuanjie Technology, with a projected net profit increase of 1726.36%, and Runze Technology, with an increase of 262.73% [9] - The semiconductor industry is projected to grow by 13.7% in sales in 2025, driven by strong demand for memory chips [7]

Investment Rating - The industry rating is "Recommended" [3] Core Views - Short-term lithium prices are expected to remain volatile, with a positive outlook on antimony, cobalt, tungsten, and tin due to a reassessment of strategic metal values [1][2][7] - Supply concerns in the nickel market are supported by the lack of new approvals from Indonesia's RKAB, which may lead to price stabilization [1][28] - The cobalt market is expected to see continued price increases due to structural supply tightness, with Congo's export regulations impacting availability [2][5][16] - Antimony prices are anticipated to converge towards higher overseas prices due to export controls and tight domestic supply [6][17] - The lithium market is experiencing a strong demand backdrop, with expectations of continued inventory depletion supporting prices [7][17] - The rare earth market is tightening due to Vietnam's export ban, which is expected to support prices [9][18] - Tin prices are supported by ongoing supply concerns from overseas sources, particularly from Myanmar and Congo [11][20] - Tungsten prices are expected to remain supported due to supply constraints and regulatory controls [12][21] - The uranium market is facing supply tightness, which is likely to support prices amid geopolitical uncertainties [14][22] Summary by Sections Nickel and Cobalt Industry Update - Nickel prices are under pressure due to stable demand but cautious purchasing from smelters, with LME nickel closing at $14,420 per ton, down 2.04% [1][28] - Cobalt prices are expected to rise further, with Congo's export regulations causing supply constraints [2][5][16] Antimony Industry Update - Domestic antimony prices are lower compared to international prices, but supply tightness is expected to support future price increases [6][17] Lithium Industry Update - Lithium carbonate prices have increased, with a strong demand outlook from the electric vehicle sector [7][17] Rare Earth Industry Update - Vietnam's recent export ban on rare earths is expected to tighten global supply and support prices [9][18] Tin Industry Update - Tin prices are supported by supply concerns from Myanmar and Congo, with LME tin prices rising to $41,905 per ton [11][20] Tungsten Industry Update - Tungsten prices are expected to remain high due to supply constraints and regulatory measures [12][21] Uranium Industry Update - The uranium market is facing supply tightness, with prices supported by geopolitical factors and production delays [14][22]

Core Insights - Tianqi Co., Ltd. announced its lithium battery recycling business, which includes battery recovery, cascade utilization, crushing, and regeneration [2] - The core subsidiary, Tianqi Jintai, has over 20 years of experience in lithium battery resource utilization and is a leading enterprise in the domestic recycling whitelist [2] - The company has established a processing capacity of 100,000 tons of waste lithium batteries, with 50,000 tons for ternary batteries and 50,000 tons for iron-lithium batteries [2] Industry Overview - The lithium battery recycling industry faces challenges such as insufficient raw material supply and underutilized capacity from 2025 onwards [2] - However, with the relaxation of black powder imports and rising prices of key metals, the company's gross profit in this sector has turned profitable, showing a significant reduction in losses [2] - The industry is moving towards a more regulated and healthier development due to the implementation of domestic and international regulatory rules and industry policies [2] Company Strategy - The company is focusing on the automotive aftermarket, overseas markets, and recycling channels from battery manufacturers and vehicle manufacturers [2] - It aims to establish a comprehensive lithium battery recycling system that covers both domestic and international markets, creating a unique closed-loop lithium battery recycling industry [2]

Business Overview - The company focuses on three main business areas: automotive intelligent equipment, lithium battery recycling, and robotics [2] - Intelligent equipment is the cornerstone of the company's performance, while lithium battery recycling represents future sustainable development [2] Lithium Battery Recycling - The lithium battery recycling business includes battery recovery, secondary utilization, and recycling [2] - The company has a processing capacity of 100,000 tons of waste lithium batteries, with 50,000 tons for ternary batteries and 50,000 tons for iron-lithium batteries [2] - The company is a leading enterprise in the recycling industry, with advanced recovery processes and product quality [2][3] Market Challenges and Developments - The lithium battery recycling industry faces challenges such as insufficient raw material supply and underutilized capacity [3] - However, the company has seen a turnaround in gross profit due to rising metal prices and improved operational efficiency [3] - The company is actively developing a lithium battery recycling system covering both domestic and international markets [3] International Expansion - The company plans to establish a production base in Thailand to leverage favorable investment and tariff policies [4] - This base will support market development in Southeast Asia and enhance the company's global competitiveness [4] Robotics Business - The robotics business focuses on providing advanced embodied intelligent robot application solutions [5] - A joint venture with Beijing Galaxy General Robot Co., Ltd. aims to advance the application of intelligent robots in industrial manufacturing [5] - Another joint venture with Shenzhen Youbixun Technology Co., Ltd. focuses on developing end-to-end unmanned logistics solutions [6][7]

Industry Overview - China is the largest producer and consumer of cobalt oxide globally, with a production of 9,500 tons in the first half of 2025, representing a year-on-year growth of 40.69% [1][10] - The global demand for cobalt oxide is driven by the expected sales of over 18 million electric vehicles in 2025, with significant demand for high-purity cobalt oxide in the power battery sector, particularly for lithium cobalt oxide cathode materials [1][10] - The energy storage market is accelerating due to carbon neutrality goals, further increasing the demand for cobalt oxide [1][10] - Emerging consumer electronics, such as foldable smartphones and AR/VR devices, have increased the cobalt content per device by 40% compared to traditional models, creating additional demand [1][10] - Government policies, including the State Council's action plan for large-scale equipment updates and local support for new energy materials, provide long-term benefits for cobalt oxide applications in power batteries [1][10] Industry Chain - The upstream of the cobalt oxide industry chain includes cobalt mines, recycled materials, ammonium carbonate solution, and sulfuric acid, along with various production equipment [6] - The midstream involves the production and manufacturing of cobalt oxide, while the downstream applications include battery materials, pigments, ceramics, magnetic materials, catalysts, and consumer electronics [6] Market Dynamics - The global cobalt reserves are estimated at 11 million tons, with the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) holding 6 million tons, accounting for 55% of the total [8] - In 2024, global cobalt production is projected to reach approximately 291,300 tons, a year-on-year increase of 22.39%, with the DRC contributing 75.86% of the total production [8] - The DRC's export ban on cobalt has been extended, potentially leading to a supply shortage and increased cobalt prices, although Chinese companies are expected to maintain normal operations in the short term [8][12] Key Companies - Huayou Cobalt is a leading player in the industry, achieving a 40% self-sufficiency rate in raw materials through its control of six cobalt mines in the DRC [14] - Jinchuan Group holds a significant position in the cobalt oxide market due to its rich mineral resources and stable production capacity [14] - Greeenme has established a closed-loop business model for resource recovery, achieving over 99% cobalt recovery rates [14] Price Trends - Cobalt oxide prices in China have remained low due to declining cobalt prices and increasing production, but a rebound in cobalt prices following the DRC's export ban has led to a doubling of cobalt oxide prices [12] - As of June 2025, the price of cobalt oxide in China was 190,000 yuan per ton, reflecting a year-on-year increase of 51.39% [12] Industry Development Trends 1. Resource security and global layout are crucial for building a diversified supply system, with Chinese companies enhancing supply stability through overseas investments [19] 2. Technological breakthroughs are necessary to capture high-end markets, with innovations in cobalt oxide production processes and product purity requirements [20] 3. The industry is moving towards a low-carbon economy, emphasizing environmentally friendly production processes and recycling systems, particularly in response to stricter regulations [21]

Investment Rating - Industry rating: Recommended [3] Core Insights - The lithium carbonate price increased by 0.91% to 72,000 CNY/ton as of August 8, 2025, indicating a supply-demand imbalance in the industry that may be difficult to resolve [6][42] - Nickel prices rose, with LME nickel closing at 212,232 USD/ton, up 1.51% from August 1, 2025, while domestic nickel prices also increased by 1.05% to 121,000 CNY/ton [21][24] - Cobalt prices showed mixed trends, with electrolytic cobalt down 1.48% to 266,000 CNY/ton, while cobalt oxide rose by 2.54% to 203.50 CNY/kg [25][30] - Antimony prices decreased, with antimony ingot averaging 185,000 CNY/ton, down 1.33% from July 31, 2025, amid tight supply conditions [31][35] - The nickel industry faces potential supply disruptions due to the suspension of production lines by Chinese mining giant Tsingshan in Indonesia, which may impact local nickel mining and support nickel prices [12][24] Summary by Sections Nickel and Cobalt Industry Updates - Nickel prices increased, with LME nickel at 212,232 USD/ton and domestic nickel at 121,000 CNY/ton, while supply remains stable despite weather conditions [21][24] - Cobalt prices fluctuated, with electrolytic cobalt down and cobalt oxide up, influenced by raw material shortages from the Democratic Republic of Congo [25][30] Antimony Industry Update - Antimony prices fell, with domestic antimony ingot at 185,000 CNY/ton, as supply remains tight and production is limited due to many manufacturers being offline [31][35] Lithium Industry Update - Lithium carbonate prices rose to 72,000 CNY/ton, with high inventory levels and slow de-stocking, indicating ongoing supply challenges [6][42] Rare Earth Industry Update - The rare earth market remains stable, with domestic production indicators not showing significant growth, and the U.S. government is working to rebuild its rare earth supply chain [15][42] Tin Industry Update - Tin prices increased, with LME tin at 33,900 USD/ton, as supply from Myanmar remains constrained due to production issues [9][15] Tungsten Industry Update - Tungsten prices rose slightly, with white tungsten at 193,500 CNY/ton, as supply remains tight due to reduced mining quotas [10][11] Investment Recommendations - Recommended companies include Tianhua New Energy, Yahua Group, and Ganfeng Lithium, which are expected to benefit from the current market dynamics in lithium supply [42]